![]() ![]() ![]() The power of type O blood: type O negative is the universal blood type and what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type in the most serious situations. Type O negative blood donors are especially needed right now. The American Red Cross asks the public to give blood or platelets during Trauma Awareness Month in May to keep hospitals prepared for all transfusion needs, including emergencies. For more information, please visit redcross.DAYTON - When every second counts, blood products can provide lifesaving care. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood teaches skills that save lives provides international humanitarian aid and supports military members and their families. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. 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. ![]() A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. Donors can also visit or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-80) to make an appointment or for more information. The free Blood Donor App – available in app stores by searching for American Red Cross or by texting BLOODAPP to 90999 – not only makes appointment scheduling easy, but donors can also access their digital donor card and be notified when their donation is distributed to a hospital. “I’ve seen the importance of giving blood and urge others to donate.” “I will probably never know the six people who took an hour out of their day to donate the blood Raeleigh received,” said Brittnee Hogue, Raeleigh’s mom. Type AB donors have the universal plasma type, which can be given to patients of all blood types.īlood is needed for patients like three-year-old Raeleigh, diagnosed with cancer in January 2015, she has received six blood transfusions during treatment. Donors with type AB blood are urged to give blood or platelets to restock the plasma supply. Platelets – a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients, surgical patients and bone narrow recipients – must be transfused within five days of donation, so donations are constantly needed. Those with type AB blood are also continually needed to help ensure patients receive the lifesaving blood products they need. We’re now asking donors who haven’t donated, and those who are eligible again, to make an appointment to give now to help ensure blood products are available for patients.” “Many donors have already given this summer. “Summer blood shortages are not uncommon, but they can be prevented when generous volunteers roll up their sleeves to help save lives,” said Nick Gehrig, senior communications director, Red Cross Blood Services. Eligible donors are encouraged to donate double red cells – a process where two units of red cells are collected while most of the plasma and platelets are returned to the donor – where available. ![]() Types B negative and A negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to patients with any blood type. When demand for the most needed types begins to outpace donations, the Red Cross alerts donors to help restock the shelves. Overall blood donations in the Red Cross Southwest Blood Services Region have been approximately nearly 500 fewer per month in June and July this year than the previous 10 months of the year. Blood donation appointments can be quickly and easily scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. 5, 2015) – The American Red Cross is facing a looming shortage of the blood types most needed by patients and is calling on eligible donors with O negative, B negative and A negative blood to give now to prevent an emergency situation. Type O negative, B negative, A negative blood donors asked to restock shelves.ĭALLAS, Texas (Aug. By Jan Hale, staff contributor, American Red Cross ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |