Oceanside Care Center Supports January Blood Donation Month and Urges Citizens to Donate Blood

OCEANSIDE, N.Y. - Feb. 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Millions of people donate blood to help others in times of emergency for many different reasons. Some donate for a relative or a friend in need, others just for the satisfaction of helping another. The month of January, designated as Blood Donor Month, is particularly important for donations due to the frequency of winter weather accidents and injuries.

Oceanside Care Center encourages members of the community to participate in blood drives this month. An estimated 41,000 blood donations are needed every day and while that goal may not be reached, there are enough people eligible to donate to fill it. The Red Cross is facing a blood shortage, a dangerous status when someone in the US is in need of blood every two seconds.

“Giving blood is an easy and selfless way to do something for your community. You never know how many lives you can impact with a single donation. We recommend everyone give blood at least once,” said Oceanside Care Center Admissions Director Kellie O'Connor.

When deciding to give blood, one should follow these simple steps for the best donation experience. First, when giving blood, it is possible to become dizzy from a drop in blood sugar. Drink plenty of water and fruit juice the night and morning before a donation and avoid dehydrating caffeinated beverages. Having food in your stomach also helps decrease light headedness, so it is advised to eat three hours before donation. During your donation, remember to relax. Bring a calming playlist or a book, something that only requires one hand to use. Finally, after your donation, be sure to have a meal high in protein to help your body replenish your blood supply. Remember to steer clear of alcoholic beverages for at least 8 hours post donation.

Oceanside Care Center has been proudly serving the community of Oceanside, NY for almost 50 years. Located at 2914 Lincoln Ave, Oceanside, NY, OCC is a premier 100-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation care center, providing high-quality care to each resident according to his or her needs. Oceanside Care Center provides top-notch short term rehab and long term care to its residents, consisting of physical, occupational and speech therapy. OCC is known for its first-rate stroke rehab program, which utilizes unique Saebo-Flex rehab technology that is the only one of its kind in Nassau County. OCC also has a renowned Alzheimer’s/Dementia program and an excellent hospice program.

For more information on Oceanside Care Center, visiting hours, or general inquiries, contact Kellie O'Connor at 516.536.2300 or at info@oceansidecarecenter.com. Visit our newly designed website at www.oceansidecc.com. Like us at Facebook.com/OCCRehab. Follow us at Twitter.com/TheNewOCC. Connect with us at Gplus.to/OceansideCC.