MEDIC On Emergency Appeal for O Positive and O Negative Blood Types

Medic Regional Blood Center reports less than a one day supply of two critical blood types: O Negative and O Positive. O Positive is the most common blood type which means that Medic must keep 500 pints of hand; however, currently Medic has less than 75 pints in inventory. O Negative is the universal blood type and is most commonly given to patients during emergency situations when blood type is not known. “It is vital to the safety of our community to maintain the inventory of these two blood types. Donations for the month of January have been extremely low and we want to encourage all eligible donors to please give blood as soon as possible,” states Christi Fightmaster, Medic Spokesperson. Medic’s donor center, corner of Ailor and Western Avenue, is open seven days a week for donor convenience. Community blood drive schedule is as followed: • January 23, Walters State Community College, 1720 Old Newport Highway, 10am – 6pm, Medic Mobile. All donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh more than 110 pounds and have positive identification. Donors will receive a free t-shirt, cholesterol evaluation and a year’s credit towards Medic’s Family Blood Coverage Program. This program exempts donors and their IRS dependents from paying blood collection and processing fees at any U.S. hospital if a transfusion is needed.