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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2006
DAYTON, OH — (Monday, July 10, 2006) There is less than a one day supply of most blood types in the area prompting Community Blood Center (CBC) to announce an immediate emergency appeal for blood donors that will last at least through the rest of the week. Currently, the area’s blood supply is 1,380 pints or 39% below safe and adequate levels. CBC has on its shelves less than a one day supply of type O blood which is the universal blood type meaning patients with any blood type can use type O. The inventory of type O+ (52% low) and O- (30% low) blood is over 750 pints below ideal levels. (See the table below for inventory of types A & B).
Collections have been inadequate for the past several weeks. CBC must collect 335 pints of blood a day to meet the needs of area patients in the 25 hospitals CBC serves. Because CBC was closed on July 4 and the holiday week was short on scheduled blood drives, 500 fewer units than normal were collected last week.
Attempts by CBC to acquire blood from other blood centers have been unsuccessful. CBC has contacted over 40 other blood centers since July 5 in search assistance and has been told that these centers cannot help at this time due to their own low blood inventories. It is up to area residents to meet the blood needs of local patients.
CBC is asking healthy donors 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 Social Security Number. A list of area community blood drives and donation locations is attached. CBC-Dayton, 349 S. Main St., is extending hours until 7:00 p.m. tonight through Thursday night.
Donors must be at least 17 years of age, 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. Prospective donors with recent tattoos obtained in Kentucky or Ohio can now give blood as long as the tattoo area has healed and the procedure was done in a licensed tattoo parlor.
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.cbccts.org.
Please call the center nearest you to make an appointment.
Copyright 2005 Community Blood Center
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