Blood Assurance Reports Critically Low Type O Blood Supply, Urges Chattanooga-Area Residents to Donate
Graphic Courtesy of Blood Assurance
In The Know with Gino…
Blood Assurance is asking the community to step up and donate blood after reporting a critically low supply of type O blood. As of Wednesday, October 14th, the regional blood center had less than a one-day supply of type O blood, putting added pressure on an already strained supply.
According to Blood Assurance, local hospitals have been seeing higher-than-usual demand, while donations have dropped this week due to Fall Break. The organization typically needs around 600 blood donations every day to meet the needs of local hospitals, but this week, daily donations have fallen below 400.
Blood Assurance supplies blood to hospitals throughout the Chattanooga area, meaning donations from local residents can make a direct difference for patients in need of emergency care, surgeries, cancer treatments and other medical procedures.
To encourage donations, Blood Assurance is offering incentives for eligible donors. Anyone who donates double red cells, O-negative whole blood, platelets or AB plasma will receive a $25 electronic gift card. All donors will also receive a Game Changers T-shirt.
Type O blood is especially important in emergency situations. O-negative red blood cells can be transfused to patients of any blood type in many emergency settings, making them particularly valuable when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type. O-positive blood is also widely used and can be given to many patients.
If you’re eligible to donate, now is a good time to make an appointment and help replenish the local blood supply. One donation can help multiple patients, depending on how the blood is collected and processed.
To learn more, find a donation center or schedule an appointment, visit BloodAssurance.org.
With local hospitals relying on Blood Assurance to help care for patients every day, taking a little time to donate could make a life-saving difference right here in our community.
SOURCE: Blood Assurance
