Red Cross puts out emergency appeal

The American Red Cross is on emergency appeal for blood donors.

On Tuesday, the Missouri-Illinois Region’s blood supply was at 1.9 days supply with O-negative at a half-day supply.

By Wednesday, it was at 1.5 days supply. O-negative was at only a .28 day supply with 63 products already on backorder. O-positive blood was also low, sitting at .74 days supply.

Donor Recruiter Galen Roberts said he is very worried about the situation because it could put patients at risk.

“We are not well stocked for our customary shipments and should a major trauma occur in our region, we simply don’t have enough blood to cover the need,” said David A. Chumley, CEO of the Missouri Illinois Blood Services Region. “We just haven’t recovered from the winter weather of the last couple of weeks and we’re concerned each day when we see the blood supply dwindle even lower.”

Robert said several blood drives were canceled Thursday including a blood drive at the prison in Bonne Terre.

Chumley said all eligible type O donors are especially needed immediately.

A few area blood drives are scheduled.

Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital will have a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Desloge Wal-Mart will have a blood drive from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday.

Kingston High School will have a blood drive from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday. Potosi Elementary will have a blood drive from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

BJC Behavioral Health on Maple Street in Farmington will have a blood drive 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 6.

To schedule an appointment visit http://www.americanredcrossblood.org, or call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543). Donors must be at least 17 or 16 with parental consent form, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.

“You never know who might need blood — a friend, a loved one or even yourself,” Chumley said. “Make donating blood a habit. It’s easy and each donation can help save up to three lives.”