Urgent Need for Blood Donors

Aug 23, 2010 - The American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region has issued an urgent call for blood donors. The Red Cross closely monitors national and local blood supplies to ensure donations are keeping pace with hospital need for blood products in order to meet ongoing and emergency patient care.

Donors with all blood types are needed, but especially those with type O negative. Red Cross officials say type O negative donors can make the difference between an adequate blood supply and a shortage. That’s because type O negative blood can be transfused to patients with any blood type, and is most readily given to patients in emergency and trauma situations.

The American Red Cross recommends everyone take three simple actions to get better prepared for a variety of disasters:

1. Get a kit:
   Build a disaster supplies kit that includes enough supplies for each family member for at least three days.
2. Make a plan:
   This includes a family communications plan and evacuation plan. Coordinate your plan with your child's school, your work and community communication plans. Practice this plan with your entire family.
3. Be informed:
   Get to know the types of disasters that can happen in your community. Find out how local officials will contact you in a disaster.

Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by the lack of recent hurricanes. You should dust off your disaster kit, replace expired food, medication or dead batteries and update your family plan. If a hurricane does strike, the Red Cross will be there to provide help and relief. But, every day in America we empower people to get prepared for life's emergencies.

As of July, the Moore County Chapter of the American Red Cross, representing Moore and Richmond counties, has received $40,000 in donations directed to the relief efforts in Haiti. Support has been tremendous. Donations have come from so many sources!

• Churches, large and small
• Organizations such as the West Southern Pines Civic Club and The Christian Closet of Hamlet
• Small businesses like Hot and Healthy Yoga
• School children from North Moore High School, Vass-Lakeview Elementary School, Southern Pines Primary School, the O'Neal School and most recently from Girl Scout Troop 1301, who presented a check to us on July 12.
• The staff of West End Elementary
• And hundreds of private donors, including children donating birthday money and emptying their piggy banks.

We thank each and every one of you who have donated to the American Red Cross for Haiti!