Hurricane Matthew Could Halt Blood Drives Blood Donors Urged to Donate Now

(Orlando, FL. October 3, 2016) Hurricane Matthew may be just close enough to Florida to cause issues with blood collections.

Should tropical storm force winds reach Florida’s east coast, many of OneBlood’s signature Big Red Buses would not be able to roll-out for blood drives. That being the case, the blood center must begin its storm preparations now and is urging all eligible blood donors to please donate before Florida possibly begins feeling the effects of Matthew.

While all blood types are needed, there is an increased need for Platelets, AB Plasma, as well as O Negative and O Positive blood. 

Hurricanes can disrupt blood collections, sometimes for several days. The most critical time for blood donations is prior to any storm in order to sustain the blood supply during and immediately after the event. (See our story by clicking HERE.)

OneBlood encourages all eligible donors to visit a donor center or Big Red Bus to ensure blood is available for patients in need. For a list of OneBlood Donor Centers and Big Red Bus blood drive locations visit www.oneblood.org.

Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. To learn more about the importance of blood donation and how donors can target the power of their blood type visit oneblood.org.

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