Nonprofit regional blood center Blood Assurance is calling on community members to make a blood donation at a local donor center or bloodmobile. Blood Assurance is in critical need of O positive, O negative, A positive, and A negative blood types. Sickness and poor weather conditions has caused drives to cancel and left many donors unable to give at their scheduled appointments. High usage has also affected what is available in inventory.
“We have experienced a much higher usage this month than is typical, said Dr. Elizabeth Culler, medical director at Blood Assurance. “Increased usage combined with drive cancellations and people being unable to come in due to sickness, has seriously impacted our inventory. We ask that anyone who can donate please give to build up supplies.”
Each donation of blood contains plasma, red blood cells and platelets that can be used to save up to three lives. Patients undergoing surgery, receiving cancer treatment or organ transplants rely on donated blood, in addition to the unexpected traumas seen at hospitals on a daily basis.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 18 years old (16 and 17 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids — avoiding caffeine — and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating. To schedule an appointment at a donor center or blood drive near you, please visit www.bloodassurance.org, call 800-962-0628 or text ‘BAGIVE ‘ to 444999.