Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) donated blood on Friday January 20, 2012 at the Forest Hills High School blood drive. January is the National Blood Donation month, and New York City often finds itself in particularly short supply of blood following the holiday season.

It is estimated that a blood transfusion is required every 2 seconds across the country, requiring around 44,000 blood donations needed each day to keep up with national demand. In particular, New York City requires close to 2,000 donations each day, which results in enough blood to save the lives of up to 6,000 patients in New York City hospitals. While the national average rate of donation lingers around 5%, only 2% of eligible New Yorker’s donate blood. The result of this sporadic donation leads to frequent blood shortages in the city.

“Donating blood is one of the simplest and quickest forms of community service,” Hevesi said. “January is National Blood Donor month, and your contribution can save up to 3 lives. If there is a blood drive near your work you can likely be finished donating before your lunch hour is up, so it’s a convenient was to perform a phenomenal and greatly needed civic duty.”