PRESS RELEASE. The Blood Connection (TBC) now has an urgent need for O-negative blood donations, specifically in its coastal regions. O-negative blood is the most transfused blood type for traumas and emergencies, so the demand never wavers.
According to TBC, the non-profit organization now finds itself with “dangerously-low inventory levels of O-negative blood” and blood products. These low levels are caused by continued low donor turnout and recent trauma cases at hospitals throughout South Carolina.
“As the Lowcountry’s primary blood provider, The Blood Connection is making an urgent plea with this community. Please donate today, especially if you know you have O negative blood. Continue to educate your friends, family, and children on the importance of local blood donation so that this community can once again have a stable blood supply,” said Terri Botti
Divisional director for The Blood Connection.
The only way for the O-negative blood supply to be replenished is for the public to donate blood. Anyone who knows they have O-negative blood is urged to donate blood with TBC immediately. If potential donors do not know their blood type, they can donate with TBC and blood type information will be shared. TBC has spent the past year battling historically low blood donor turnout and are now starting to see some recovery from these low collection numbers, but the small increases are not enough to comfortably sustain the local hospital blood supply.
To find a location to donate, go to thebloodconnection.org/donate, call 864-751-1154, or walk into any donor center or mobile unit. TBC also has donor center locations in Charleston, Florence, Myrtle Beach, and Savannah.
