The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center has issued an urgent plea for blood donations.
Recent traumas and traffic accidents have reduced the community blood supply, and STBTC says it is especially in need of Type O blood, which is known as the universal blood type. The upcoming Labor Day weekend is expected to put a further strain on the blood supply.
To accommodate blood donors, the six STBTC locations in San Antonio and New Braunfels opened early at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.
“Local hospitals and patients rely on us, always. And we rely on our regular donors and right now we implore those who have never donated before to understand the meaning of a one-hour donation of their time,” said Dr. Samantha Gomez Ngamsuntikul, STBTC associate medical director. “Donating is convenient and gratifying, with one hour providing a lifesaving gift to someone in need."
You can schedule a donation by calling 210-731-5590 or online at SouthTexasBlood.org.
Who Can Donate Blood?
- Anyone 16 years old, weighing at least 120 pounds (with a parent consent form)
- Anyone 17 years or older, weighing at least 110 pounds, in good general health
Why Donate Blood?
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1 pint of blood can save 3 lives
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Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood
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Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S.
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Nearly 7,000 units of platelets & 10,000 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.
- Blood has a shelf life of only 42 days