NORTHERN OHIO Red Cross pleads for blood donors

The American Red Cross, Northern Ohio Blood Services Region, is in the ninth day of a blood emergency, and is issuing a plea asking all eligible donors to give blood.
National Red Cross inventory has fallen more than 31,000 units since Memorial Day and is reaching critical levels.
Locally, ARC's Northern Ohio Blood Services System, which serves 19 counties including Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana, has also had a decline in donations. Less than a one-day supply of "O" negative, the universal blood type, and "B'' negative are available. Three other blood types -- "O" positive, "A" positive and "A" negative -- are at less than a two-day supply, said David Plate, Northern Ohio Blood Services Region chief executive officer.
Solving the problem
The problem of blood shortages could be solved if current blood donors, the majority of whom give blood once a year, would donate blood at least two times a year; and if new, eligible people would join the ranks of committed blood donors, Plate said.
"If giving blood was a lifetime habit, we would not question whether blood would be there when someone is depending on it," he said.
To be a Red Cross blood donor, a person must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health.
For information on area blood drives, call (800) 448-3543 or visit www.redcross.org/northernohio.