July 4 week brings emergency blood shortage
Red Cross holding drives in Sumter for critical need
The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage after a difficult week for donations over the Independence Day holiday.
A handful of upcoming blood drives are scheduled for the Sumter area, and all eligible blood donors for all types - especially type O - are asked to give to help save lives.
"Each and every day, individuals across the country depend on blood and platelet donations for lifesaving treatments and emergency care, so it's critical that people donate now to meet these needs," said Cliff Numark, senior vice presidents of Red Cross Blood Services. "Whether you've never donated or give a couple times a year, you're needed to give as soon as possible to help save patient lives."
More than 550 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups last week than during a typical week as people across the country celebrated the holiday and enjoyed summer activities. This could amount to as many as 15,000 fewer donations than needed.
There is an "especially critical need" for type O blood donors because it is the most in-demand blood type and often the first to be depleted from hospital shelves during a shortage.
Type O negative is the universal blood type and what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine the blood type of patients in the most serious situations. Type O positive is the most common blood type and can be transfused to Rh-positive patients of any blood type.
HOW TO HELP
To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The Red Cross has added about 6,500 additional appointment slots at donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks to accommodate more donors.
MISSING TYPES SEES ENCOURAGING INCREASE IN NEW DONORS
Facing a decline of about 80,000 new Red Cross blood donors each year for the past several years, the Red Cross, which supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood, launched the Missing Types campaign in June to encourage donations from people who had never given blood or platelets before.
Through the campaign, which runs throughout the summer, the letters A, B and O, all types of blood, disappeared from corporate logos, celebrity social media accounts and favorite websites to illustrate the critical role every blood donor plays in ensuring blood is never missing from hospital shelves.