ATHENS, Ohio -- The American Red Cross needs immediate blood donations to boost critically low levels. The Ohio University campus will respond to this emergency by hosting a blood drive at the Ping Center on Monday, July 29, from noon to 6 p.m. Free t-shirts will be provided to all donors. Interested persons should call (740) 593-9901 to schedule an appointment.
While the inventory levels of all blood types in the region are low at the moment, O Positive, O Negative, B Negative and A Positive are in particularly short supply.
Nationwide, the Red Cross system inventory is 20 percent below critical levels. The Central Ohio Blood Services Region, which includes 27 counties serving 54 hospitals, has seen a steady increase in demand for blood over the last four months, outpacing donations. More blood donors and blood drive sponsors are needed to ensure patients' needs are met.
The demand for blood in the United States has steadily risen in the last few years for a number of reasons, including advances in technology and the aging of the baby boomer population. The Central Ohio region alone needs 600 donors each day to meet the demand.
"We've been able to keep up with our hospital's needs," said Mike Kennedy, manager of hospital services, "but our own inventory at the Red Cross is uncomfortably low. If there were a major trauma or transplant in the Region that used a lot of units, we would have a hard time replenishing the supply." Federal donation guidelines to protect the safety of the blood supply have become increasingly stringent, further depleting an already dwindling blood donor base.
Every two seconds someone in the United States receives blood. Each unit of blood donated can help up to three people. Donated blood is frequently used for cancer treatments, for trauma and burn victims, for people living with sickle cell anemia, and for organ transplant recipients.
Blood donors must be at least 17-years-old (there is no upper age limit), weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health. Donors need to present photo identification. To make an appointment to give blood, or for information on sponsoring a blood drive, please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE or visit www.bloodsaveslives.org.
