Every day, 1,400 South Georgia residents need a blood transfusion. But during summer months, blood supplies are low. That's why the Men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity are stepping up to help with the need for Blood in the area.
In Georgia, blood donations are at a critical low. That's why the Men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity decided to make one of their service projects this year, a blood drive.
"We know that in our community we are in desperate need of blood, just something that we could do to benefit our community, and to help out those that are in need of blood,' says Felix Revills, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Blood centers say the summer season can be challenging for the local blood supply.
"Especially during the summer months because people are vacationing, and we get a large percentage of our blood supply from high schools, and high schools are closed during the summer," says Petra Phillips, Collections Technician.
Many hospitals, are only getting half the blood they request. This time last year..the American Red Cross had 50,000 more units of blood.
"People are afraid to donate blood, because they don't know what to expect, but if they just come in and experience for the first time," says Phillips.
It is important for everyone to donate, but especially crucial for people with O negative blood type. O negative is the universal blood type which means it can be given to any patient"
"O negative, is the universal donor and that blood can be received by anybody," says Phillips.
But only 6.5% of the population has O negative blood. "People that are trauma patients, people that are in car accidents, people that are hemorrhaging , they all need blood, I mean it could be your own family member," says Phillips.
And each time you donate a pint of blood, you save three lives. The Red Cross says there is a critical blood shortage in the Southern Blood Services Region, which serves 120 hospitals, including Albany, Tifton, and Valdosta.
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