Red Cross struggles to meet demand for blood

By William K. Alcorn

An official said the area needs 900 volunteer blood donors daily.

The Northern Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is struggling to meet demand, beginning the week with six of the eight blood types below minimum inventory standards.

The Northern Region covers 19 counties, including Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull, and 57 area hospitals.

The region needs 900 volunteer blood donors daily to keep a minimum three-day supply of all eight blood types, said Victoria Rothacker, Red Cross spokeswoman.

About 38 percent of the population is eligible to give blood; but of those, only a small percentage actually donate. Unfortunately, though, every two seconds, someone needs blood, Rothacker added.

As of Monday, she said there was less than a half-day’s supply of types O Negative and B Negative and only four units of AB Negative available.

Rothacker said the extreme high temperatures over the weekend impacted collections, with less people coming forward to give. In addition, about 20 percent of the blood collected in the region comes from high school and college blood drives. With school no longer in session, those vital pints are not available, she said.

To encourage summer donations, the Red Cross said all who come to donate now through Sept. 1 automatically will be entered in a raffle to win free gas for a year — a $3,000 value — and five additional winners will each receive $500 gas cards.

“By offering an incentive that we know people need, we hope more blood and platelet donors who can find the time to give will do so this summer,” officials said.

Blood donors must be 17, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health and present a valid state-issued photo identification card or a Red Cross donor card upon donation.

For more information or to see a list of blood drives, visit www.RedCrossDonor.org or call (800) 448-3542.

alcorn@vindy.com