Blood Drive Cancellations Cause Need For More Donations

Blood Assurance needs more blood donations after seeing widespread cancellations due to weather and sickness.

Community Relations Director Jay Baumgardner said the organization has 1,500 pints left on the shelf. Not many considering 70 hospitals share the supply.

“The blood supply never takes a day off,” Baumgardner said. “Holidays, snow, so if you have the opportunity to come and donate and you’re healthy, well and have no symptoms, that’s what we are looking for.”

Baumgardner said the blood types most in need are O positive and negative. Baumgardner said once you donate, the blood will be infused into somebody’s body within three days.

Blood Assurance has already lost almost 700 units scheduled for January due to drive cancellations and have had 135 donors cancel appointments.

All whole blood type O donors will receive a $10 Amazon card and all double red cell type O donors will receive a $20 Amazon card now through January 9th. All other donors will receive a long-sleeve T-shirt.

To schedule an appointment or find a donor center or mobile drive, donors can visit www.bloodassurance.org/schedule, call 800-962-0628 or text BAGIVE to 999777.