Donors urgently needed to protect Greater Cincinnati’s blood supply

After closing all collection operations including blood drives and donation centers on Monday due to severe weather, Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, will be OPEN on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and is urgently calling on volunteer blood and platelet donors to help keep our city’s blood supply from getting dangerously low.

Do you have another day off Tuesday and need to get out of the house? How about saving a life and getting a pair of joggers in return?

As the sole provider of blood products to more than 30 local hospitals, Hoxworth typically requires at least 450 donors daily to ensure that car accident victims, trauma patients, mothers in childbirth and cancer patients have the lifesaving blood products they need.

"Due to the closure on Monday, we anticipate a critical shortage of blood this week, particularly for platelets, which last only five days on the shelf," said David Oh, MD, co-director and chief medical officer of Hoxworth Blood Center.

“Many other blood centers in the U.S. are also struggling to maintain their supplies during this weather emergency. We are asking our community to rise to the occasion by donating blood or platelets as soon as possible — while staying safe," said Oh.

Hoxworth will have the following neighborhood donor centers open on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025:

• Anderson - https://hoxworth.org/donors/locations/anderson.html
• Blue Ash - https://hoxworth.org/donors/locations/blue-ash.html
• Ft. Mitchell - https://hoxworth.org/donors/locations/ft-mitchell.html
• West Chester - https://hoxworth.org/donors/locations/north.html
• Western Hills - https://hoxworth.org/donors/locations/west.html

There is no artificial substitute for blood, and there is no way to manufacture blood in a lab. Every transfusion must come from a volunteer donor, which is why Hoxworth is calling on the Tristate community to roll up a sleeve and donate now.

Hoxworth urges all eligible donors to schedule an appointment immediately to donate blood or platelets and help save lives. Your donation is critical to keeping our local hospitals supplied for patients in need.

Hoxworth Blood Center is committed to ensuring the safety of our donors and staff. Please exercise caution while traveling to our centers, and monitor weather conditions.

Appointments can be scheduled by calling (513) 451-0910, downloading the app, or visiting www.hoxworth.org.

Every donation makes a difference. Together, we can save lives and support our community during this challenging time.