With the local blood supply at a critically low level, the Farmingdale Council of PTAs is gearing up for its annual blood drive, to be held at Woodward Parkway Elementary School on Jan. 18.

The community drive is traditionally held during January, when blood donations are down due to the holidays, the flu season, and inclement weather. All four of Farmingdale School District's elementary school PTAs are currently recruiting donors for the drive, which is being headed up by member Rick Morrison.

Donors are desperately needed to save lives, according to Joan Tischner, Woodward Parkway drive chairperson. "Over 800 pints of blood are needed every day to meet the needs of people in Long Island's 50 area hospitals, and we do not collect enough blood to meet that need," she said. "That's why we need people to come out."

Last year, the PTA conducted its most successful blood drive ever, collecting 173 pints. Although no official collection goal has been set for this year's drive, Tischner is hoping to get at least 10 to 20 more pints.

Nancy Anderson, a representative for Long Island Blood Services, noted that January is one of the most difficult months of the year for the blood supply. Other critical times include December, July, August, September, and periods around any holidays. "January is always a bad month with illness. This year, there is a flu epidemic, which means a lot of people who would be donating can't," she said. "We are really struggling all over Long Island."

Although supply levels change on a daily basis, Anderson said blood banks are always critically low on types O and B, and that almost half the blood that's transfused in Long Island's hospitals is done on an emergency basis. "We have more and more procedures being done that require a tremendous amount of blood," she added. "A liver transplant patient would go through about 50 units of blood before they were in the clear from their liver transplant. That's just one example. And people undergoing chemotherapy for cancer need the most blood. Chemo kills healthy cells as well as malignant cells. And without blood transfusions, in many cases, the person would not survive the chemo."

Despite this need, only four out of 100 people who are able to donate blood do so. "It's our job, and when I say 'our,' I really mean every single person. It's our job to maintain the community blood supply, because it really affects every single person," said Anderson.

Many in Farmingdale seem to recognize that responsibility, as shown by the relatively high, annual turnout at Farmingdale PTA's annual drive. Tischner attributed that success to the strong support of parents and the local community.

"I really think it's the strong commitment of the PTA," she said, noting that, as part of donor recruitment efforts, parent representatives make phone calls, send out information and registration sheets, and advertise the event in the schools. She added, "I really think it's based on the hard work of the PTA members recruiting and getting the word out, and also the strong commitment of this community. Because I really do think that we have a wonderful community here. I think people come out, and they rally when they're really needed."

This year's Farmingdale PTA blood drive will take place in the cafeteria of Woodward Parkway School from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 18. According to Tischner, appointments are not necessary, although those seeking further information about the drive may call 293-3250.

To be eligible to donate, one must be between age 17 and 75, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health. Anderson noted that it is absolutely safe to give blood, and that one cannot contract any disease from donating, because all materials used are new, sterile, and disposable. She added that the discomfort stemming from donating is minor, and involves merely a pinch.

Tischner, who has been donating blood for 15 years, attested to that.

"It's helping someone out there, and I might not know that person. But I may be either helping improve their health in some way, depending on what's wrong with them, or contributing maybe to them getting better from a serious illness," she said. "It's just a pinch. That's all it is, and when you leave there you know you've done something great."