Cold Weather Could Hurt Blood Donations

According the blood bank officials the upcoming bad weather has the potential to put blood supplies at major deficits.

“We have mobile blood drives and in-center hours scheduled throughout the week, but with the potential of severe winter weather we are taking steps now and preparing for potential blood drive cancellations, especially at some of our high schools,” said Heather Knight; United Blood Services spokesperson.

“If this weather does what is forecast we have the potential of losing 500 to 600 units of blood on Thursday and Friday alone. This is a real and serious shortfall that will adversely impact the state of our local and regional blood supply should we not be fully prepared.”

United Blood Services asks all eligible blood donors to please find their closest mobile blood drive or in-center location and make a blood, platelet or plasma donation this week before bad weather strikes.

“It’s very important that blood inventories are replenished and available at all times,” said Knight. “If you have already made an appointment to donate in the coming days, we thank you and encourage you to keep that appointment—if you’ve not made an appointment yet, we need you now; please donate at your earliest convenience!”

——————

There is an eminent need for O Negative blood types. O Negative is the universal donor. In Tupelo alone, we need 81 additional O Negative units to adequately supply the North Mississippi area. For the region, which provides blood to Mississippi and West Alabama ( Centers in Tupelo , Meridian and Hattiesburg) we need a total of 121 O negative units. So as you can see the highest need for O Neg is in Tupelo.