Blood Types O and B, Common in These Communities, in High Demand at Area Hospitals

ATLANTA - The American Red Cross is putting out a special call to African Americans and Hispanic Americans to donate blood and platelets during the coming winter months.

While the American Red Cross invites everyone to donate blood, African Americans and Hispanic Americans are highly encouraged to donate blood and blood components. A recent study completed by the Red Cross shows that in communities with higher populations of African Americans and Hispanic Americans there is a higher percentage of blood donors with Type O or Type B blood, the two most requested blood types by hospitals.

During the winter holiday season, the overall blood supply often suffers shortages for a number of reasons. With donors on vacation and preoccupied with other holiday related activities, collections typically decline between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. When this collection shortfall is paired with the increased demand also common during this season of travel, a potentially dangerous situation can develop as demand for blood and blood products becomes greater than the supply

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, please call 1-800- GIVE LIFE (448-3543).