Critical blood shortage in southern Arizona, how you can help

Southern Arizona has a pretty large blood collections footprint, collecting about 75,000 units of blood a year.

But in the summer, it’s very difficult for blood donor groups, like the American Red Cross, to meet blood demands.

Believe it or not, students make up 20 percent of blood donations in southern Arizona. During summer break, blood donations take a significant decline.

The blood on the shelves saves lives and the Red Cross tries to keep at least a five-day supply of blood donations on their shelves, ready to meet the needs of patients every single day.

Sadly, executive director of the Southern Arizona chapter of American Red Cross, Courtney Slanaker said that’s not the case at the moment.

” Right now we’re facing a critical type o blood shortage and what that means is we have less than a two-day supply of type-O blood available for emergency rooms where it could be most critical, ” said Slanaker .

Especially for trauma patients, who may have lost a lot of blood in a tragic accident.

Type-O blood is being distributed faster than the number of donations coming in, so when the blood isn’t available, treatments are delayed.

One donation of whole blood can save up to three lives.

Therefore, if you’re wondering how to get involved in meeting this critical shortage of blood, simply go and donate blood at a local donation center.

Also, businesses and local organizations can even schedule their own blood drive.