A blood drive is scheduled for today until 6 p.m. at the Bald Eagle Fire Hall, along Route 220.
Winter weather has created concern for the blood supply reserves for this holiday season.
Last week’s snow and ice storm that struck the area dealt a major blow to the local American Red Cross Blood Services’ effort to build blood supply reserves before the Christmas and New Year holidays, according to officials of the Greater Alleghenies Region.
While the blood drive tonight may be short notice, individuals are always able to schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-Give-Life (1-800-448-3543).
The Greater Alleghenies Region of the American Red Cross Blood Services strongly urges anyone who is eligible to give blood to call as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to donate or visit www.redcrosslife.org or www.givelife.org for a schedule of upcoming area blood drives.
Giving blood takes very little time. Although about 60 percent of the people in America are eligible to donate blood, only five percent do.
Anyone at least 17-years-of-age, weighing 105 pounds or more and feeling in good health may be eligible to donate blood.
Individuals with donor eligibility questions should call the nursing collections office at 1-800-542-5663.
Locally, the loss of several blood drives, late starts and the early closing of several others caused a negative affect on the weekly blood collection goal.
“In order to avoid a critical blood shortage, people in communities not affected by the storms are encouraged to schedule an appointment or visit a blood drive in their local area,” said Taunia Oechslin, Senior Director, Recruitment, Greater Alleghenies Region.
“Local hospitals and communities could be adversely affected if blood supplies are not replenished on a regular basis,” said Oechslin. “This week’s blood drives must meet or surpass their goals to compensate for having fewer drives on schedule between Christmas and New Year’s.”
Oechslin said that supplies of type O negative blood, considered universal because it may be transfused to all blood types in an emergency, are already critically low.
“All donors, and especially those with O negative blood, are encouraged to help during this time,” Oechslin said.
