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One plea after another for blood donors has been met with some response, but not nearly enough to meet the demand in our hospitals.
According to the American Red Cross, "Donors have been stepping up to help rebuild the blood supply since the American Red Cross first announced our national blood shortage last month. Unfortunately, hospital demand continues to outpace donations. We need an additional 10,000 blood donations each week over the next month to meet patient needs."
If you have Type O blood, you are especially encouraged to give.
Of course, there is a new round of incentives Oct. 21 to Nov. 9 -- $10 restaurant gift cards for donors and entry for a chance to win a $5,000 gift card -- but the real incentive should be knowing you might make the difference in saving a life. And, no, having received your flu or updated COVID-19 vaccine will not make you ineligible to give.
Generally speaking, if you are 17 years of age in most states, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health, you may be eligible to donate blood.
Columbiana County residents can do so from 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 6 at Elks Lodge 305, 824 E. State St., Salem; 7:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Nov. 14 at Beaver Local High School, 46090 Bell School Road, Lisbon; 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 24 at Das Dutch Village Inn, 150 state Route 14, Columbiana; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 30 at Leetonia High School, 450 Walnut St., Leetonia; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 30 at Southern Local High School, 38095 state Route 39, Salineville; and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Peter Metrovich Community Center, 15442 Pugh Road, East Liverpool.
Local residents are generous with their time and money -- always have been. But in this case, the need to roll up the sleeves and get to work takes on a different sense of urgency. Such a significant shortage in our hospitals means everyone who is eligible must consider giving blood -- gift card or not.