Hoxworth issues urgent appeal for blood donations

Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, is asking eligible individuals to schedule blood donations as soon as possible to replenish the Tri-State area’s inventory of blood products.  

"Now that elective surgeries are taking place at our area hospitals again, our inventory of Types O-, A+, A- and B+ have fallen drastically,”  said Alecia Lipton, director of public relations at Hoxworth. ”Hoxworth is appealing to the community to donate blood at their local Hoxworth donor center as soon as possible in order to restock our shelves and ensure we are prepared for whatever tomorrow brings.”  

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Amy Acton, MD, of the Ohio Department of Health had ordered all non-essential or elective surgeries to be postponed in mid-March to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus, resulting in a decreased need for blood. With surgeries back on the schedule, Lipton said, the need for blood and platelets is sharply increasing.

Blood donation continues to be a safe and sterile process, according to Hoxworth officials, and the blood center is taking the safety of donors very seriously.

“The coronavirus outbreak poses no additional risk to blood donors for the mere fact of being blood donors, either during the donation process or from attending organized blood drives,” says David Oh, MD, chief medical officer at Hoxworth. “Hoxworth staff at donor centers are taking extra safety precautions to protect the health and wellness of donors and employees, including wearing masks, changing gloves between donors, and sanitizing surfaces regularly.”

Appointments are highly encouraged at this time in order to control the flow of donors and maintain social distancing protocol. To schedule a donation, call (513) 451-0910 or visit www.hoxworth.org.