Give blood Monday    

Special need for negative blood types

[OCT. 3, 2003]  At this time, due to an unusually high usage of certain types of blood, Central Illinois Community Blood Center is concerned about the supply of negative blood types, especially O negative and A negative. Over the past couple of months there have been an unusually high number of burn patients and trauma patients who have negative blood types. Since these types are more rare than the positive types, it is more difficult to obtain them in any quantities.

Unfortunately, less than 5 percent of the population donates blood to support the other 95 percent. We need community members to step up and help replenish the local blood supply. We especially need new blood donors to increase the amount of negative types available. All types are needed on a daily basis; however, the negative types are especially needed at this time. People donating do not need to know their blood type. The blood center will type your blood before distribution.

Donating blood is safe and easy to do. If you are at least 17 years of age (16 years old with signed parental permission), weigh 110 pounds or more, are in good health, have ID and have not donated in the past 56 days, please call [phone], come to the blood center at 1134 S. Seventh St. in Springfield or look for the bloodmobile in your community.

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In Lincoln, you have an opportunity to help on Monday, Oct. 6, from noon until 6 p.m. at the Logan County Paramedic Association building (former Glenn Pontiac building), and again at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 3 until 7 p.m. To help Lincoln Community High School in the "High School Challenge," make sure to tell registration to count your blood donation toward the high school.

In Illiopolis, there is an opportunity to help on Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 2 until 7 p.m. at the Senior Citizen's Center.

Hours at the blood center in Springfield:

Monday, 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Tuesday through Thursday, 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Friday, 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The need never stops. However, it does become more critical at times. You can save someone's life.

[Central Illinois Community Blood Center
news release]