By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News
The American Red Cross is urging donors to come out and give blood in the final days of summer to help overcome the chronic shortage they’ve been experiencing.
The current inventory for blood products is still critical, and Pontiac Bloodmobile Chairman Dixie Vogel describes the urgency for the blood by explaining just how much is used for many reasons in hospitals.
“For example, one of our hospitals has requested 15 O negative units, 55 O positive units, four platelets and they need just one unit of platelets for a baby who has a very low platelet count. As you can see, the urgency of blood and blood products is just from one hospital, and we currently serve 35-plus hospitals in our region,” Vogel said.
The Bloodmobile will be 11-5 today at the Pontiac VFW. Walk-ins are welcome and donors can give platelets, whole blood, power reds and plasma at that time. For more information, contact Vogel at 358-2444.
