Type O Blood Supply at Hoxworth at Emergency Levels

CINCINNATI—Hoxworth Blood Center at UC has declared an Emergency Appeal for Type O Donors this week.

"Our Type O inventory has dropped to an emergency level due to extremely heavy demand for Type O blood products," says Gregg Boothe, assistant director of Hoxworth Blood Center. "More than 500 Type O blood products were used in the last week to support two patients in our community. This situation has reached a point where our ability to adequately supply our hospitals with needed blood is severely compromised."

Hoxworth Blood Center urges donors to give at a blood drive or donor center this week to replenish the blood supply.

Hoxworth operates eight neighborhood donor centers in Anderson, Blue Ash, Central at UC, downtown, Ft. Mitchell, Mason, Tri-County and Western Hills. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Appointments can be scheduled  by calling (513) 451-0910 or visiting www.hoxworth.org.

Donating blood is safe and easy. You must be at least 17-years-old (16-years-old with a signed parental consent) and in good health. You must weigh at least 110 pounds and bring identification to donate. It is recommended that donors eat a good meal and drink plenty of water within four hours before donating.

Hoxworth Blood Center has a special incentive this week for donors. All donors through Saturday, Sept. 24, are automatically entered into the Geek Week technology raffle. The prizes are an iPad2, Nook e-reader or a Nintendo Wii package. Three winners will be selected.

About Hoxworth:
Hoxworth Blood Center at UC was founded in 1938 and serves 31 hospitals in 17 counties in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. Annually, Hoxworth collects more than 90,000 units of blood from local donors to help save the lives of patients in area hospitals.