Type O blood donation campaign by Red Cross in Virginia

Virginia, United States, December 30: A Type O blood donation campaign was organized by the American Red Cross and the Warwick Kiwanis on Dec. 30, to stock enough blood in the holiday season.

The blood donation drive was to be held at the Hampton Donation Center, 4915 West Mercury Blvd., Newport News, Va. from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.

The idea of organizing a campaign for type O blood was to restock blood banks as blood has a 42-day shelf life only. In vacation season, blood donations see a sharp drop and this is when patients suffer the most.

Type O negative is a universal type and is generally demanded by most of the medical centers, as it is compatible with all blood types. It can be transfused in emergency situations when it may not be possible to determine a patient's blood group due to non-availability of time. Type O positive blood can be transfused to a patient with another positive blood type.

Complicated surgical procedures and many other diseases require blood transfusion and the Red Cross believes that it is every citizen's duty to donate blood, and do his bit in saving lives. Premature babies, cancer patients, people with medical conditions like sickle-cell anemia and thalessemia require constant blood transfusion.

Red Cross is urging all Americans to donate type O blood and maintain its supply in all blood banks in such demanding times, when most people are vacationing.

A healthy and willing donor must be 16 years old (with parental consent) with minimum weight of 110 pounds. Blood can be donated every 56 days.

Additional information related to the Type O blood drive can be obtained from weneedblood.org or at 1-800-448-3543.