The need for blood affects us all. Nine out of ten of us will need blood some time in our lives. And one out of every 10 hospital patients requires a transfusion. Although the average transfusion is three pints, some patients require more. Blood is in constant demand for treatment of accident cases, cancer patients, hemophiliacs, and for use during surgery. The need for blood never takes a holiday. New York Blood Services say they require 2,000 volunteer donations a day to meet the patient demands at the nearly two hundred New York and New Jersey hospitals.

We need all of you to help out. If you are at least 17-years-old, weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated blood within the last 56 days you can donate blood. People over 75 years old can donate blood if they meet all criteria and present a physician's letter. There are some medical conditions that can keep you from donating blood. The guidelines are set by federal, state and local health agencies. If you would like more information on donating blood, you can visit nybloodcenter.org. If you can't physically donate, please ask a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor.

On Tuesday, Aug. 29 Priestly Chiropractic at 81 Conklin St. will be hosting a blood drive. You can call their office at 752-1007 for more information. If you can't make it that day you can always visit the Long Island Blood Services Melville location at 905 Walt Whitman Road (Route 110). If you have an organization that would like to host a blood drive you can call 478-5038.