DAYTON, Ohio —The U.S. was already facing a shortage in blood donations when last week’s Ohio Valley tornado outbreak hit and exacerbated the issue. Donors are needed to help bridge the gap, officials said.
According to the American Red Cross, the organization used 200 blood products for patients in affected areas. The Red Cross added that due to the emergency, many communities in the affected areas could postpone blood drives and close donation centers as communities clean up the damage.
Dayton’s Community Blood Center provided 30 units for patients in Kentucky and Tennessee. The organization is calling on donors to help replenish its supply.
“As a neighboring blood center it’s important we help communities affected by the devastation brought on by the tornados. CBC is committed to not only providing a solid blood supply for communities we serve locally, but also being there for other communities that need our assistance. After hearing about the devastation, we felt we needed to help,” said CBC VP of Donor Services Tracy Morgan.
The organization is specifically looking for Type O positive and Type O negative donors. The Community Blood Center said type O positive can be transfused to patients with any positive blood type. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused immediately to any patient in need.
Donors in the Dayton area can make an appointment at the Community Blood Center online. The American Red Cross also accepts appointments for its locations throughout Ohio.
The American Red Cross has the following guidelines in order to donate blood:
- Be in good general health and feeling well
- Be at least 17 years old
- Weigh at least 110 pounds
- Have not donated blood in the last 56 days
The entire process takes roughly one hour, the American Red Cross said.
