Emergency Appeal For Blood Donors
United Blood Services announces
Emergency Appeal for O-negative blood donors
NE Mississippi–United Blood Services today announced an emergency appeal for type O-negative blood donors. Since the first of the year our demand for type O-negative blood has outpaced the supply needed by our area hospitals.
United blood Services located at 4326 S. Eason Blvd is opened daily Monday through Saturday.
Monday Tuesday Thursday 11am to 7pm
Wednesday & Friday 9am to 5pm
Saturday 8am to 2pm
Donors may call 662-842-8871 or visit www.UnitedBloodServices.org to make a convenient appointment to donate or to find a bloodmobile in your area.
Other locations open to public to donate this week are:
Thursday, January 31st
Mathiston Community Blood Drive 1:00 PM to 7:30 PM Bloodmobile at Piggly Wiggly/
Mathistion, MS
Hawkeye Glove Manufacturing, Inc 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM Bloodmobile/Eupora, MS
Only six percent of the population has O-negative blood, yet at hospital trauma centers, sometimes as much as ten and one half percent (10 ½ %) of the blood transfused is O-negative. That’s because O-negative blood is the universal blood type.
“It can be given to anyone in an extreme emergency situation when there is no time to cross match the donor’s blood with the patient’s,” said Harry Brown, Center Director for United Blood Services, this area’s non-profit community blood provider. “When you do the math, our community needs people who are O-negative to give blood at least twice as often as everyone else!”
Another special need for O-negative blood is in the treatment of babies. Neonatal care facilities require fresh units of O-negative blood each day to treat their tiny patients.
“Every 2-to-3 seconds in this country, someone needs blood. And you never know when you or someone you love will be the one. We all expect blood to be available when we need it, but only a few of those who can give actually roll up their sleeves. If you have O-negative blood, it’s time for you to get involved!” Brown said.
Volunteer donors must be at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.
As of 10:54 this morning, United Blood Services had hospitals orders for 12 type O-negative donations waiting to be filled. All other blood types are needed as well to meet the increasing demand. Please donate.
United Blood Services has been this area’s non-profit community blood provider since 1955 and serves patients in N Mississippi and NW Alabama. The United Blood Services network is one of the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit blood service organizations, and is a founding member of America’s Blood Centers and the American Association of Blood Banks.
