Urgent Need for Blood Donors | Marion Online - The Online News and Information Source for Marion, Ohio

Urgent Need for Blood Donors | Marion Online - The Online News and Information Source for Marion, Ohio: "Urgent Need for Blood Donors
Tue, 01/11/2011 - 8:36am | Staff Report
Filed Under:

* Health
* Red Cross

Since 1970, January has been declared National Volunteer Blood Donor Month, and with good reason. Above all other times of the year, it’s the month that presents the most challenges in recruiting people to give blood. This January is no exception with the local Red Cross in an urgent need for more donors.

Changing weather, busy holiday schedules, increased cold and flu symptoms and even the winter blues can keep the most dedicated blood donors from making or keeping an appointment to give. Yet winter weather can lead to more traumatic injuries on icy roads and may increase the need for blood.

The local Red Cross needs about 650 blood donors every day to meet the needs of patients at 41 area hospitals. However, there has been a 10 percent dip in blood donations so far this winter. Recent blood drive cancellations due to weather also meant the Red Cross was not able to collect nearly 500 donations it had planned on for patients. And as the Red Cross is trying to recruit donors, a high number of people asked to give are reporting cold or flu symptoms, which make them not able to donate.

“There are so many unpredictable factors at play that can affect the blood supply during January; it’s a critical time to remind the public of the need for more donors,” said Rodney Wilson, communications manager for the American Red Cross Central Ohio Blood Services Region. “If you are in good health, now is the time to share that good health with patients in need.”

The dip in donations has also caused a decrease in the local blood inventory of key blood types including O-negative, A-negative and B-negative.

As an added bonus for blood donors, those who come to give during January can enter to win free groceries for a year from Kroger.

The Red Cross urges everyone to make donating blood a priority this winter. Your help could mean hope for those in need. To find out where you can give blood and to schedule your appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS, for additional information.

If you are at least 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), meet height and weigh requirements (at least 110 pounds based on height) and are in good general health, you may be eligible to donate blood. All donors need to present positive identification.