KENT—The Kent Lions will hold an emergency blood drive Monday, Aug. 19, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Kent Community House, 93, North Main St.
Nationwide, blood donations fell by more than 25 percent in July –a shortfall of more than 17,000 blood donations—according to the Red Cross. As of July 25, Connecticut had only about a three-day supply of type O blood, less than half of what would be considered optimal, according to the Connecticut Blood Center (CTBC).
As part of its emergency declaration, Connecticut Blood Center issued an “urgent call” for both type O- and type O+ blood. Type O- is the universal blood type, while type O+ is the most common blood type.
Blood donors of all types are urged to give as soon as possible. “Blood products are being sent to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. Right now, type O inventory is so low, distributions of this vital blood type are reduced below what hospitals count on,” Red Cross said.
Blood donations typically decrease during the summer months at the very time that people are traveling and taking part in outdoor activities. About a quarter of trauma-related hospital admissions require transfusions.
To donate whole blood, persons must be in good health, at least 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. Blood can be donated every 56 days, up to six times a year.
For a Red Power donation a special machine is used to extract two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning plasma and platelets to the donor. Males must be at least 17 years old for this kind of donation, be at least 5 feet, 1 inch tall and weigh no less than 130 pounds. Females must be 19 or older, at least 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weigh at least 150 pounds.
Platelets can be donated up to 24 times a year, while AB Elite platelet donations are reduced to 13 times a year. AB Elite donors must have type AB blood.
