Critical Need for “O” Blood Donors!

Community Blood Council of NJ has issued a critical appeal for donors with type O blood.

Summer is the slowest time of the year for collecting blood donations. Reasons for this shortage include many regular donors are on vacation, companies and businesses have less employees to donate at corporate blood drives, and students are out of school. Once summer vacation hits, the blood supply drops considerably.

If volunteer donors do not help this week with the critical shortage, blood inventories at local hospitals could soon be at dangerously low levels. Area hospitals, particularly trauma centers, can't function without type O blood, the most common blood type. Approximately 44% of the population is either O+ or O- (38% O+ and 6% O-).

"We’re asking all individuals with type O blood to donate at their earliest convenience," said Dr. Gary Shinder, Chief Operating Officer for CBC-NJ. “This situation is very serious.”

In years past, CBCNJ has imported blood from other blood centers around the nation to help with the temporary shortage during the summer months. But this year most blood centers across the country are experiencing similar shortages of donors. Last month, Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ was forced to cancel surgeries because of a critical blood shortage.

New Jerseyans are urged to donate blood as soon as possible. In times of shortages, walk-ins are always welcome or you can schedule an appointment by calling (609) 883-9750 or sending an email to info@communitybloodcouncil.org

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