Summer Blood Shortage Prompts Donation Plea

Main Category: Blood / Hematology
Also Included In: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 07 Aug 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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For the second week in a row, Hoxworth Blood Center at the University of Cincinnati is issuing an emergency plea for blood donors.

Inventory levels for all blood types are critically low. Hoxworth's blood supply for 28 area hospitals is down about 600 units, or about 30% below normal levels. (one unit = one pint)

Greater Cincinnati, along with many other metropolitan areas like New York City, is suffering from severe shortages of blood this summer. This is due to the high temperatures, regular donors taking vacations, and students being away from school. In fact, about 15% of Hoxworth's annual collections come from high school and college students.

"The high temperatures combined with the fact that many of our donors are on vacation or out of school has created a serious shortage of blood," said Michael Anderson, spokesperson for Hoxworth.

Hoxworth operates nine neighborhood donor centers in Anderson, Blue Ash, UC Medical Center, Downtown Cincinnati, Ft. Mitchell (KY), Ft. Thomas (KY), Mason, Tri-County and Western Hills.

In times of shortages, walk-in donors are always welcome.

About Hoxworth

Hoxworth Blood Center at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center needs to collect from 350 volunteer blood donors and 40 volunteer platelet donors each day to keep up with the demands of tri-state hospitals and their patients. Hoxworth, founded in 1938, serves 28 hospitals in 17 counties in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. Annually, Hoxworth collects over 90,000 units of blood from local volunteer donors.

Hoxworth Blood Center
http://www.hoxworth.org