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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2008
DAYTON, OH — (June 23, 2008) There is less than a one day supply of type O blood available prompting Community Blood Center (CBC) to announce an immediate emergency appeal for blood donors with all blood types, especially type O. Recent traumas have depleted the supply of type O which is the most common blood type and the universal donor type. Patients with any blood type can use type O-negative. CBC needs 500 pints a day this week to replenish the local blood supply. There is also an urgent need for platelet donors.
More than half of the blood that is transfused locally is type O (O+ and O- combined) while about 45% of the population has type O. Currently, the area’s blood supply is 1214 pints or 37% below safe and adequate levels. Type O+ is 552 or 49% low. Type O- is 196 or 48% low. CBC is also low on all other blood types. Donors with all blood types are needed each and every day. The best match for a patient in need of a transfusion is blood of the same type. Despite nationwide blood shortages, CBC is attempting to acquire blood from other blood centers. Not every pint collected is a usable pint and not every donor that presents is able to donate. The need for blood continues to climb every year due to advances in medicine and because people are living longer. About 38% of the population is eligible to donate blood with only 5% of those who could donate actually doing so.
CBC is asking healthy individuals who have not given blood in the past two months to donate blood at this time. Donors need to bring a photo ID with their full name and their CBC donor ID card if they have one. Donors can schedule a donation appointment at one of CBC’s fixed sites in Dayton, Middletown, Richmond, Springfield or West Chester by calling 1-800-388-GIVE or online at www.DonorTime.com. CBC will be extending hours this week: CBC-Dayton will be open Tuesday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Contact your local CBC branch for other extended hours information.
Community Blood Center-Dayton
349 S. Main Street
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 461-3450
Community Blood Center-Middletown
3990 Roosevelt Blvd., Suite C
Middletown, OH 45044
(513) 727-1995
Community Blood Center-Richmond
4450 Garwood Place
Richmond, IN 47374
(765) 962-6329
Community Blood Center-Springfield
2200 N. Limestone Street, Suite 106
Springfield, OH 45503
(937) 399-2611
Community Blood Center -West Chester
8731 Union Centre Blvd.
West Chester, OH 45069
(513) 777-4428
Donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 years old with parental consent: form available at www.givingblood.org or at CBC branch & blood drive locations), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in good physical health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically. Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to email canidonate@cbccts.org or call 1(800)388-GIVE.
Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services™, an independent, not-for-profit organization, is registered to ISO 9001:2000. Community Blood Center provides blood products to 25 hospitals in the Miami (Ohio) and Whitewater (Indiana) Valleys. For more information about Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services™, visit www.givingblood.org.
Copyright 2005 Community Blood Center
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