Blood Assurance needs donors throughout Chattanooga region

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

photo Phlebotomist Haley Thompson moves in with a needle as Nate Manning, left, prepares to donate O negative blood Wednesday at the Blood Assurance office on Third Street in Chattanooga.

Blood Assurance is issuing an appeal for all blood types because of higher demand and fewer donors being able to give during last week's cold snap.

Blood inventory levels are nearing critical stages, a news release stated.

Blood Assurance provide blood to more than 70 hospitals and healthcare facilities in the region.

Current levels of O negative donations are below a two-day supply. O negative blood is known as the universal blood type because it can be given to patients in an emergency situation when their own blood type is unknown. Only about 6.6% of the donor population has this blood type, according to the news release.

Donors can also make an appointment for one of Blood Assurance's 12 donor centers by visiting www.bloodassurance.org. Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent) and weigh 110 pounds or more.

About 440 blood donations are needed every day in order to adequately supply area hospitals, Blood Assurance said.

For more information, call 1-800-962-0628.