Red Cross issues urgent call for most needed blood types

“Due to a variety of factors, blood donations are not where we need them to be and we are in critical need of blood to serve our local hospitals”.

In June and July there were approximately 1,397 overall fewer blood donations in the Red Cross Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region than during the previously 10 months, according to the American Red Cross.

The Blood Bank of Delmarva is issuing a call for O negative blood donors and urges those who are able to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Donors with AB blood type have a universal plasma type that can be given to patients of all blood types. The more specific Types B negative and A negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients.

Donating blood is one of the simplest things a person can do to help save a patient’s life. Platelets are a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer and surgical patients as well as bone marrow recipients. Platelets must be transfused within five days of the donation.

8/15/2015: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Indiana National Guard, 1220 W Madison St.in Plymouth.

8/6/2015: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 613 South Main St.

8/17/2015: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., White House Church of Christ, 205 Spring St.

Macomb – 8 a.m.to 1:45 p.m., St. Isidore Catholic Church, 18201 23 Mile Rd.

8/12/2015: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Williamson County Public Library, 1314 Columbia Ave.

The American Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood, but not without significant help from communities. “However donations for all blood types are always encouraged”.

Blood donation appointments can be quickly and easily scheduled by visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.