Indiana Blood Center issues urgent statewide plea for blood donations

INDIANAPOLIS - Jan. 21, 2019 - PRLog -- Snow, ice and frigid temperatures spanning two weeks have resulted in a sharp decline in blood donations, prompting the Indiana Blood Center to issue an urgent plea for Hoosiers throughout the state to donate blood as soon as possible.

Currently, there is less than a two-day supply of some blood types and even less of critical blood types like O-negative. In the event of massive transfusion situations or unforeseen tragedies, the supply could be quickly diminished. Ideally, a three-day supply or more is needed to meet the needs of nearly 80 Indiana hospitals that rely on Indiana Blood Center to provide life-saving blood, platelets and plasma.

"Our hospitals rely on us to collect and provide blood and blood products daily for their patients undergoing surgery, fighting disease and recovering from trauma," said Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president and chief medical officer at Indiana Blood Center. "We need Hoosiers to answer the call and give blood today to help save lives. Donating blood is a life-saving gift for which we can only rely on each other. We are counting on our generous donors to answer the call for this critical need."

All blood types are needed but O-positive and O-negative blood are at critically low levels now. O-negative donors are universal blood donors, meaning their red blood cells can be transfused to patients with any blood type. This blood type is needed in hospital emergency rooms throughout Indiana for situations when there is no time to determine a patient's blood type.

Hoosiers can donate life-saving blood at these six Indiana Blood Center donor centers:

INDIANAPOLIS: 3450 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis 46208
FISHERS: 11005 Allisonville Road, 46038
CARMEL: 726 Adams St., Suite 150, 46032
GREENWOOD: 8739 U.S. 31 South, 46227
TERRE HAUTE: 2021 S. Third St., Terre Haute, 47802
LAFAYETTE: 2200 Elmwood Ave., Suite D-16, Lafayette 47904

Hoosiers can also give blood at one of Indiana Blood Center's many local community drives. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment, call 317-916-5150 or visit http://www.versiti.org/Indiana.

Donating blood takes about an hour. Anyone age 17 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to donate blood. Parental consent is required for donors age 16. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date to their appointment.

More than 90,000 Indiana residents each year give blood through the Indiana Blood Center, a non-profit organization founded in 1952 that operates blood centers in Indianapolis, Fishers, Carmel, Greenwood, Lafayette and Terre Haute. The center also operates many community blood drives throughout the state. Part of Versiti, Indiana Blood Center provides a continuous and safe supply of blood and biological services to Hoosiers, nearly 80 Indiana hospitals and beyond.

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ABOUT INDIANA BLOOD CENTER
Founded in 1952, Indiana Blood Center, part of Versiti, is a non-profit organization and vital community resource dedicated to providing a continuous, safe and adequate supply of blood components and biological services first to people of our own communities, then wherever needed. The center has 350 associates and more than 90,000 Hoosier blood donors. For more, visit Versiti.org/Indiana.