Press release from the American Red Cross:
Knowing Your Blood Type can be Vital to Medical Care
(July 2, 2010) – You may not realize it, but you could be the lifesaving type.
Blood typing is vital to medical care, says the American Red Cross, particularly during emergencies when every second counts.
“There are times when someone needs blood immediately to help save their life,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “Not only is it important for blood to be available, it’s also crucial that the patient receive the same or a compatible type.”
Type O negative, for instance, is the blood type medical providers transfuse in most emergency situations when the patient’s blood type is unknown. And that, Red Cross officials say, is why type O negative is the blood most requested by hospitals. Other types in high demand include type O positive, which can be transfused to patients with all positive blood types—or about 80 percent of the population. Type B blood is also in high demand and can be subject to seasonal shortfalls.
“Regardless of your blood type, someone needs what you can give,” said Whitman “Every day, hospital patients need about 39,000 units of blood to attend to ongoing or emergency medical needs ranging from cancer care to surgery to automobile accidents.”
First-time donors through the American Red Cross will find out their blood type within a few short weeks of blood donation. Donors receive an ID card with their name and blood type, which can be presented the next time they come to give through a Red Cross blood drive.
“Sometimes, our donors like to ascribe certain personality characteristics to certain blood types,” said Whitman, “But whether you’re type A, B, O or AB, when you roll up your sleeve, you become the giving type, and show you’re someone who cares about the well-being of others.”
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
- Monday, July 19, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, located at 943 Powers St. in New Haven. Come to donate and receive an American Red Cross stadium seat cushion.
- Tuesday, July 20, from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, located at 10700 Aboite Center Road in Fort Wayne. Come to donate and receive an American Red Cross stadium seat cushion. Please call 459-1497 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Sunday, July 25, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Covenant, located at 10001 Coldwater Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 438-2801 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Sunday, July 25, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Fellowship Missionary Church, located at 2536 Tillman Road in Fort Wayne.
- Sunday, July 25, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located at 2120 S. Harrison St. in Fort Wayne. Please call 744-1450 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Monday, July 26, from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. at Parkview Field, located at 1301 Ewing St. in Fort Wayne. This blood drive is sponsored by the TinCaps as part of the All American City Week. Come to donate and receive an American Red Cross stadium seat cushion.
- Tuesday, July 27, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at The Third Place, located at 1601 W. Cedar Canyon Road in Huntertown. This blood drive is sponsored by the United Methodist Church of Huntertown and Resurrection Lutheran Church.
- Thursday, July 29, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at National City Bank in the Lower Level Training Room, located at 110 W. Berry St. in Fort Wayne. Please call 461-6219 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
Fort Wayne Donor Center located at 1212 E. California Road in Fort Wayne, (across from the Memorial Coliseum)
Traditional whole blood or double red cell donation:
- Mon. & Tues. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Weds. & Thurs. 12 noon – 6 p.m.
- Fri. & Sat. 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Platelet pheresis donation (call 1-800-589-8127 or 260-480-8299 to schedule a platelet donation):
- Mon. 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Tues. & Weds. 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Thurs. 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Fri. 6:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Sat. 6:30 a.m. – 12 noon
- Sun. 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Lutheran Hospital Donor Center located at 7900 W. Jefferson Blvd., Suite 107 in Fort Wayne (in the South Lobby of Lutheran Hospital) Traditional whole blood or platelet pheresis donation (no platelet pheresis on Wednesdays):
- Monday through Wednesday: 12 noon – 6 p.m.
- Thursday through Saturday: 6 a.m. – 12 noon
- Sunday: by appointment only
How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.About the American Red Cross
The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region serves northern and central Indiana and northwestern Ohio, and needs to collect about 500 units of blood a day to meet patient need in more than 60 hospitals. In addition to providing blood to our community, the American Red Cross also provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.
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