Donating blood is a good way to get a "mini-medical" exam -- your medical history gets reviewed, and your pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and hemoglobin are checked before you can donate blood. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 75* who is in good health can donate. There are no risks to giving blood. An average healthy person's body manufactures blood around the clock to meet its needs.
* 16-year-olds must have parental consent to donate blood, and people over 75 can donate blood with a doctor's note.
The Department of Citywide Administrative Services, in conjunction with the New York Blood Center, sponsors a Citywide Employee Blood Program called City Donor Corps. The Corps is made up of City employees from participating agencies, City-affiliated institutions, and public authorities who give blood regularly at least once a year. Some members voluntarily donate up to five times a year.
City employees may join the New York City Donor Corps at any time. Once you make your first donation, you have the opportunity to be in the City Donor Corps Program. Each donation adds an extra year of membership. Whenever possible, bloodmobiles are scheduled on agency premises by the New York Blood Center for your convenience. If you are unable to donate blood, a relative or friend may donate as a substitute for you. That will make you eligible for City Donor Corps benefits. It is suggested that an enrollment card be completed and forwarded to your agency Blood Program Coordinator to ensure eligibility for City Donor Corps benefits.
The City Donor Corps Program does not cover the cost of autologous or directed donations. An autologous donation is when a donor donates his/her blood to be stored for personal transfusion at a future date. A directed donation is when a donor selects the person to receive the blood donation.
City Donor Corps members are eligible for benefits for themselves and the following members of their families:
When you have donated eight pints of blood through the City Donor Corps, you become eligible for membership in the Galloneers Club. Once a year, each agency presents lapel pins and certificates to those employees who have made their eighth donation at any point during the previous twelve-month period. Presentations are also made to recognize multi-gallon milestones.
Your City Donor Corps membership and benefits do not stop when you retire if you have:
Currently active employees can call your agency’s Blood Program Coordinator. Your human capital office can provide your Blood Program Coordinator's name, telephone number, and location.
If you are retired from City service, you can call the central office at 212-386-0554, or write to:
NYC Employee Blood Program
Department of Citywide Administrative Services
1 Centre Street
24th Floor
You can also call 311 and ask for the NYC Employee Blood Program. If you are calling from outside of NYC, call 212-NEW-YORK.