, /PRNewswire/ -- Versiti Blood Center of has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations due to a dangerously low blood supply. Certain blood types have less than a day's worth of availability, endangering the lives of local patients. Summer donations have plummeted to critical levels, with over 4,463 appointments missed in the past month alone.
All blood types are needed, with O-positive and O-negative being the most in demand. O-positive is the most common blood type, while O-negative blood is the universal type that can be safely received by all patients in emergencies when the blood type is unknown. "We know summer is a challenging time for blood donation, and we plan for it every year, but what we see today is dire," said Dr.
, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical director at Versiti. "Patients' lives are at risk. If you are healthy and able, we are pleading with you to donate blood this week.
" In addition to unfilled appointments and a rise in cancellations and no-shows, Versiti's partner hospitals have required a significant volume of blood this past month to support organ transplant procedures and other traumas. "The demand for blood simply does not match the number of donors coming through our doors," added Waxman. "While we deeply appreciate our loyal donors who consistently show up, it's important to recognize that about 3 percent of people who are eligible to donate blood actually do.
If it's been a while since your last donation or you're.
