Call for blood donations sent out to avoid shortage

ALBANY — The American Red Cross is facing a shortage of the blood types most needed by patients, prompting Red Cross officials to call on eligible donors with O negative, B negative and A negative blood to give now to prevent an emergency situation.

Officials said overall blood donations in the Red Cross Southern Blood Services Region, which includes most of Georgia and parts of South Carolina and Florida, have been approximately 3,286 fewer per month in June and July than in recent previous months.

Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to patients with any blood type. Types B negative and A negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients. Eligible donors are being encouraged by the Red Cross to donate double red cells, a process during which two units of red cells are collected while most of the plasma and platelets are returned to the donor, where available.

“Summer blood shortages are not uncommon, but they can be prevented when generous volunteers roll up their sleeves to help save lives,” said Mario Sedlock, director of donor recruitment for the Red Cross Alabama and Central Gulf Coast and Southern Blood Services Regions. “Many donors have already given this summer. 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.”

Red Cross officials say platelet donors and those with type AB blood are also continually needed to help ensure patients receive the blood products they need. 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.

Donors with type AB blood are urged by the Red Cross to give blood or platelets to restock the plasma supply. Type AB donors have the universal plasma type, which can be given to patients of all blood types.

Individuals who donated blood earlier this summer may be eligible to donate again. There are several upcoming blood donation opportunities in the area, including:

— Today, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Bell Plantation, 7902 Magnolia Industrial Blvd., Tifton

— Friday, 7 a.m.- noon, Dougherty County Government Building, 222 Pine Ave.

— Monday, 2 p.m.-7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 402 S. Merrimac Drive, Fitzgerald

— Tuesday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m., Cordele Community Clubhouse, 108 N. 15th St., Cordele

— Aug. 13, 1 p.m.-7 p.m., Moultrie Church of Christ, 1915 Georgia Highway 37 E, Moultrie

— Aug. 14, 1 p.m.-6 p.m., True Vapor Inc., 621 N. Westover Blvd., Suite E

— Aug. 17, 3 p.m.- 7 p.m., Adel United Methodist Church, 214 S. Hutchinson St., Adel

The free Blood Donor App – available in app stores by searching for American Red Cross or by texting BLOODAPP to 90999 – can be used to make appointments, access a digital donor card and for notification to a donor when their donation is distributed to a hospital. Donors can also visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.