Monday 27 August 2007The American Red Cross is in need of type O-positive and type O-negative blood donors. Locally there is less than a 24-hour supply of these blood types. Thirty-eight percent of the United States population has type O-positive blood making it the most common of the eight blood types. Since 84 percent of the U.S. population can receive type O-positive blood there is a steady demand for it from hospitals and patients. People with type O-negative blood are particularly in demand because they are the “universal donor.” It means that people of all blood types can receive type O-negative blood safely so it is used during life-threatening emergencies or when the matching blood type is in short supply. You can help boost the supply of life saving type O blood by donating blood on Wednesday Sept. 5 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the Cannon County Senior Citizen Center located at 609 Lehman St. in Woodbury. For more information on blood donation call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. Men and women of all blood types are welcome to donate. All presenting donors at this blood drive will have the opportunity to enter a weekly regional drawing for a $500 Best Buy gift card. If you are at least 17 years of age weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and are in good general health you may be eligible to donate blood. All donors need to present positive identification.
