Community Called to Donate Blood

Officials of the Greater Alleghenies Region of American Red Cross Blood Services have raised concerns related to the area’s blood supply.

"Collections are an immediate concern to us,” commented Lisa Hart, senior director of donor recruitment at the Red Cross.

“We have collected much fewer blood products than we had planned.  We have had to cancel drives and that, coupled with the low donor turnout we are seeing at the existing drives, is an unfavorable mix affecting our blood inventory for hospitals.”

Currently, there is less than a day’s supply of O negative and B negative blood types, and less than a two-day supply of A negative.  For example, this means that if blood collections were to cease today, based on average hospital requests, the region would exhaust its O negative and B negative blood supplies by tomorrow.

“The Red Cross will do everything possible to keep the blood drives on schedule and to secure sponsor groups willing to fill in for cancelled blood drives on short notice,” she comments, “we just ask that donors come out to support blood collection efforts in their communities.”

For blood donations opportunities, to schedule an appointment to donate or to check on the status of a blood drive near you, please call 1-800 GIVE LIFE (I-800-448-3543) or visit RedCrossBlood.org