Red Cross Declares CRITICAL O Negative Blood Shortage Asks Public to Help Patients Immediately

Jan 27th, 2005

A slowdown in blood donations during the winter months is unfortunately nothing new. Winter vacations and irregular routines seem to distract regular donors from giving. It seems that the immediate period (up to 60 days) following New Year is especially a hard time to get people to make the time to give blood. It's happened again now in 2005 and now we are facing a slippery slope if the public doesn't immediately respond. Premature babies and their moms, leukemia, sickle cell and cancer patients, as well as burn  and trauma victims count on us for life.  

"We're asking the public who know they have O negative blood in Alabama, Mississippi Gulf Coast and the Florida Panhandle to make an appointment and donate ) to find a Red Cross center or blood drive (call 1-800-GIVE LIFE) TODAY without delay to ensure that blood is there for hospital patients when they need it, said Mark Beddingfield, COO of the American Red Cross Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region. Donors can also go to the Red Cross web site at: www.alacgc.org,.

Patients count on the public to give blood everyday, 365 days a year for survival. Please call soon. O negative blood is the universal blood donor-anyone can receive this blood type. That's why it is so critical we have some ready," Beddingfield added.  That number is 1-800-448-3543.

Red Cross provides well over 60 percent of Alabama's blood supply. Red Cross serves a large patient population that depends on blood transfusions everyday to stay alive.  We are again experiencing severe shortage of O negative units which are the most critical for trauma victims and many other patients who undergo major surgery or are being treated for serious illness. The hospitals and patients depend on the commitment of the public to donate blood. The long term solution is more new donors and for all donors to give 3 times a year.  

"I am sure that an awareness of the need by the public will motivate people to bring us to a safer situation in terms of blood availability," stated Dr. Ken McMilin, Regional Medical Director for Red Cross Blood Services, Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region. You must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 lbs. and be in general good health to give blood.

Just one Alabama hospital patient received 34 units of blood (that took 34 donors to give blood) after contracting a bacterial infection from a severe burn.  Medical situations like this occur every day without warning.  Blood is an emergency medicine and must be available and ready for use before these situations happen. That can only happen if people roll their sleeves up and give.

As of today, Red Cross has backorders for O- blood ASAP from hospitals in the Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region, which includes Alabama, the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the Florida Panhandle, according to Mark Harmon, Red Cross Director of Product Management.  O negative inventory is very low, Harmon added.

"Blood donors can give every 56 days (8 weeks). We are asking people to donate blood today and sponsor a blood drive where they work, play or worship," Beddingfield said. To schedule a blood donation or sponsor a blood drive, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. Donating blood is safe and easy-you can't get sick or get a disease. All supplies are used one time ONLY for you and then destroyed.