Blood Drive In Centerport To Offer Donors Free Mets Tickets

Donors will receive free Mets tickets at a blood drive in Centerport on Thursday, July 20. Officials hope the tickets serve as an incentive to donate following the declaration of a blood emergency in the Long Island region this summer.

Approximately 2,000 donations are needed every day to keep New York and New Jersey hospitals sufficiently stocked, according to Suffolk County Legislator William R. Spencer, M.D.

It takes about 48 hours before donated blood reaches a patient as it must be typed, separated and tested before it can be released to hospitals.

The universal blood type O negative, which is made up of 6 percent of the population, is greatly needed at this time, Spencer said.

The drive will be held at the Centerport Fire Department, located at 9 Park Circle, from 1 to 7 p.m.

In addition to helping out the blood supply shortage on Long Island, each donor will receive an electronic voucher which can be redeemed online for a pair of tickets to a New York Mets game.

Donation requirements:

• You can donate blood once every 56 days
• You must be between the ages of 16 and 75
• If you are 16, you will need parental consent
• If you are over the age of 75 you will need a doctor’s note
• You must weigh over 110 pounds and be in good health in order to give blood
• No tattoos in the last 12 months

If you have any questions or to schedule an appointment for the blood drive, contact Spencer’s office at 631-854-4500.

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