MOUNT VERNON — The supply of type O-negative blood at the local American Red Cross has dropped to critical levels. Currently, the local Red Cross is not able to fully fill requests from hospitals for type O-negative, and is moving blood among hospitals to where it is needed most while supplies are critically low.
Those who are a type O-negative donor can make the difference between an adequate blood supply and a winter shortage.
Locally in central Ohio, approximately 100 pints of O-negative blood are used daily for patients. Type O-negative blood is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations.
All blood types are needed on an ongoing basis, even in severe winter weather. Winter weather across much of the Midwest and Eastern parts of the U.S. have caused hundreds of blood drives to cancel, resulting in a shortfall of more than 8,000 blood donations. Across the state of Ohio, 25 blood drives have canceled due to winter weather with a total shortfall of more than 1,200 donations.
The Central Ohio Blood Region supplies Knox Community Hospital. For information about a local drive, call 397-6300 or visit knoxredcross.org.
