This week, a blood drive will target Ohio University students with type O blood — the students who officials say can best help during emergency and trauma health situations.
The American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 2 to 8 p.m. tomorrow in the Ping Recreation Center. While event’s organizers are specifically seeking people with type O blood, all are welcome to donate.
This is the first time OU has held a type O blood drive, said Lori Gaitten, an American Red Cross donor recruitment representative. She said she hopes this first drive draws 50 type O blood donors.
People with type O blood are known as universal donors; O-negative blood can go to any recipient, while O-positive blood can go to recipients with any positive blood type, Gaitten said.
“A car accident victim or a mother with birth complications could depend on these lifesaving donations,” states a Red Cross news release.
About 50 percent of the blood every hospital uses is type O, Gaitten said, adding that babies take type O blood better than their own blood type, making it particularly crucial that hospitals have enough of that type on hand.
Everyone who donates at this drive will receive a Red Cross-themed gift, as well as a coupon for six free wings from Buffalo Wild Wings.
“Most people feel special if they have the blood type, and they can help,” said Elisa Timmerman, an OU junior studying health services administration and a donor recruitment intern for the American Red Cross. “They can save the lives of so many more people, not just (people with) one blood type.”
Gaitten described the time between Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day as “trauma season” because of the higher number of accidents and the increased need for donated blood during that time.
“This blood drive couldn’t be more crucial now,” Gaitten said. “There’s more travel (during the summer) and an increased risk for injuries.”
Everyone donating needs to bring some form of identification. Those who want to donate can call 1-800-RED-CROSS to set up an appointment, although walk-ins will be welcomed as well, Gaitten said.
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