An urgent plea for Type O positive and negative blood donors was issued Monday by the San Diego Blood Bank.
"Coming out of the holiday season, we typically see a decrease in donations of all types at this time due to schools being out of session for the holidays and seasonal illnesses like the flu," said David Wellis, the San Diego Blood Bank's CEO. "The need for type O blood has hit a critically low level and we need the community to help us keep a safe supply for local hospital patients."
Type O positive, the most common blood type, is needed by many hospital patients. Type O negative, the universal blood type, can be given to any patient and is often used in emergency rooms when there is no time to determine the blood type of the patient.
"That’s why it’s used so much in hospitals," San Diego Bloodbank spokeswoman Claudine Van Gonka said. "So the minute it gets on the shelf it goes right back out to the hospitals that need it."
The San Diego Blood Bank has a half-dozen donor centers throughout San Diego County and 10 bloodmobiles, making it convenient to donate. The locations are:
— 3636 Gateway Center Ave., Suite 100, San Diego;
— 776 Arnele Ave., El Cajon;
— 358 West El Norte Parkway, Suite J, Escondido;
— 12640 Sabre Springs Parkway, Suite 109, Sabre Springs;
— 3880 Valley Center Drive, Suites 209-10, Carmel Valley; and
— 1910 Via Centre Drive, Vista.
To be eligible to give blood, donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in general good health.
Anyone who is eligible to donate blood and has O negative or O positive blood type is encouraged to make an appointment immediately at www.SanDiegoBloodBank.org or by calling (800) 4MY-SDBB. Walk-ins are welcome.
