March 22, 2008 06:59 pm
—
CONTRIBUTED
The American Red Cross is currently in need of volunteer blood donors with all blood types, particularly those with Type O Positive or Type O Negative, due to the continuing critical need. The American Red Cross is urging all eligible donors to give at blood drives and donor centers over the next several weeks as a way of keeping the blood supply at a safe and stable level.
The most critical current need is for donors with Type O blood, because Type O blood makes up more than half of the total blood requested by the more than 100 hospitals served in the Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region.
Because O Negative is considered “universal donor” blood, it can be used to treat trauma patients in an emergency when time is of the essence and the patient’s blood type is unknown. This makes it an extremely important part of a safe and stable blood supply, and there is always a tremendous demand for this type of blood due to its versatility. O Positive blood is the most common type, and can be transfused into patients with positive blood types. B Negative is a rare blood type, and often, when an emergency need is realized, there is no time for B Negative donors to respond. These factors make it especially important that the American Red Cross has a stable supply of both O Negative and B Negative blood types at all times.
Donors are needed each to make sure everyone who needs blood receives blood. Under normal circumstances, the ALGC must collect roughly 800 units per day to make sure hospital requests are filled. One of the best ways to avoid a dangerous emergency shortage is to give regularly at American Red Cross blood drives and donor centers.
Therefore, the American Red Cross will be hosting many public drives over the coming weeks in an effort to bolster the blood supply for the coming months:
American Red Cross blood drives in Cullman County:
- March 22, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Piggly Wiggly in Jones Chapel
- March 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Good Hope High School
- April 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Cold Springs High School
- April 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vinemont High School
- April 5 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wal-Mart Supercenter
- April 10 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Axsys Technologies
- April 16 from 4 to 9 a.m. and from noon to 5 p.m. Webb Wheel
- April 23 from 1 to 6 p.m. St. Bernard Preparatory School
- April 26 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wal-Mart Supercenter
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.