The need for blood is constant, but the supply is not.
Latinos have the highest percentage of universal blood types compared to all other ethnic groups. During National Hispanic Heritage month, Latinos in central Ohio are sharing that universal blood type to celebrate their heritage and support the community.
The community is invited to a special Hispanic Heritage Month American Red Cross Blood Drive with Greater Bridgeport Latino Network. The drive will be held during National Hispanic Heritage Month Saturday Sept. 30, at McGivney Community Center, Inc., 338 Stillman St., 7:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
Call Gloria Miranda at 203-543-2886 or register directly at http://www.redcrossblood.org and type GBLN in the sponsor code box on the homepage to register.
Type O blood is known to be the most universal. O negative is completely universal and can be transfused to a patient with any blood type. O positive can be given safely to about 84 percent of the population. Type O blood is especially important in emergency situations when hospitals don’t have time to type a patient before beginning medical treatment. While about 45 percent of the total population carry type O blood, nearly 60 percent of Latinos are either O positive or O negative. No other ethnic group has a higher percentage of this vital blood type than the Hispanic community.
“Because the Hispanic community has a higher occurrence of the most needed blood type, they have a special gift to give,” said Rodney Wilson, communications manager for the Red Cross Central Ohio Blood Services Region.
In this time of need after the disasters in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria and the devastating earthquake in Mexico, this is where the community can start giving back and show by example by donating.
Blood can carry markers that are specific to ethnic background. In order to find the best match for every patient, donors of all ethnic backgrounds are needed to give on a regular basis. For more on blood and diversity, visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-and-diversity.
Every two seconds in the United States blood is needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect nearly 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide.
