Blood Reserves Said to Be Critically Low
When United Blood Services officials learned of this week’s MD-83 jetliner crash offshore of Ventura County, they frantically searched area hospitals for as much surplus blood as they could find.
They weren’t pleased with the results.
“We were very concerned that we wouldn’t be able to meet the need that might come up,” said Patty Hunt, community relations director with United Blood Services, a nonprofit blood provider.
After two months of appealing to the public for blood donations, United Blood Services is stepping up its request for contributions.
Type O positive and O negative blood types are in the shortest supply.
Hunt said that between 110 and 120 people need to donate blood each day to meet daily needs and have a small cushion. She said her agency has been receiving between 75 and 85 donations daily.
“We are continuing to be critically low and we are very concerned,” she said. “We want to be able to provide for the community, but we need their help.”
United Blood Services has donor centers in Ventura, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, with mobile units that visit communities regularly. Appointments for all locations can be made by calling 654-8104 or (800) 715-3699.
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