Islip FD To Host Blood Drive In Honor Of Chief Billy Moon

ISLIP, NY — A blood drive will be held Wednesday at the Islip Fire Department in honor of a beloved Islip fire chief.

The friends and family of Firefighter Billy Moon are encouraging the community to honor his memory by giving blood on Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m, the New York Blood Center announced.

The 20-year fire department veteran suffered a fatal head injury while preparing for a training exercise in December.

Moon's family decided to donate his organs, which resulted in saving five lives — two of which were his fellow FDNY members. Those who attend the blood drive are also encouraged to and sign up to become an organ donor, in hopes of saving a life.

Moon was survived by his wife, Kristina, and their two children.

The blood center described him as was a" beloved member" of the Islip and Brooklyn communities who "worked tirelessly" as a member of Ladder 133, and then transferred to Rescue 2 in Brooklyn.

He was also a member of the Islip FD and served as the chief of the department in 2017.

The blood center said that blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration recently lifted eligibility restrictions for people who lived in Europe during certain periods of time. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit its website here or call 800-688-0900.

It only takes an hour to donate, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion, the blood center said.

Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.

To make an appointment at this blood drive, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit this link.