Emergency Blood Drive Set for Today

With universal blood donor supplies at less than 20% of desired levels in Southern California, the American Red Cross is holding an emergency blood drive today.

Levels of O-negative blood are at 12% of desired inventory, and O-positive stores are at 17%, said Rich Krieg, acting chief executive of the Southern California Red Cross.

Levels of B-negative blood are also low, at 20% of desired inventory; B-positive levels are at 30%, he said.

“This weekend is a critical time to ensure a stable blood supply for the upcoming [July 4] holiday weekend,” Krieg said.

“There is a special need for group O blood, since nearly one-half the population has this blood type, and O blood is also the universal donor blood often used in emergencies,” he said.

Blood is often in short supply around the summer holidays, Ross Herron, medical director for the Southern California Red Cross, said recently.

“And with the long weekend coming up here around the holiday, we are concerned that blood donations will drop even further and cramp our supplies [even more],” he said.

To give blood, people must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health and not at risk for AIDS.

To donate blood or find the nearest donor center, call (800) GIVE-LIFE.