MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS) has issued an urgent call for type O+ and O- blood donations. This dangerous shortage impacts local hospitals and is part of a disturbing national trend, with Type O shortages reported across the U.S. The current inventory of type O blood is the lowest since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further complicating this shortage is a recent surge in blood usage. Seven massive transfusion protocols (MTPs) have occurred across the region in the past several days. MTPs involve administering ten or more units of blood to a patient within 24 hours. Still, they can often require 50 or more lifesaving blood products per patient, which strains the blood supply tremendously.
Type O+ is the most common blood type, representing nearly 40% of the U.S. population. Type O- is the universal blood type and is commonly used in emergency settings. A shortage of both types, both locally and nationally, poses serious concerns for our healthcare system, and the need for donors is critical.
In addition, the region continues to struggle with the challenges that often accompany the summer months. Seasonal travel, school breaks, and a rise in traumatic accidents during summer usually strain the blood supply and lead to shortages. NJBS calls on all individuals with Type O blood to immediately donate.
“We are appealing to our community to step up and donate blood, especially those who are type O. The summer months are always a challenging time for the blood supply, but we are currently experiencing an even lower level of this crucial blood type than at the start of the pandemic,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New Jersey Blood Services. “Following the recent surge in blood usage, our local inventory is critically low, and we need immediate support to ensure every patient receives the lifesaving care they need.”
NJBS hosts daily blood drives and operates 19 area donor centers to reach donors and meet local hospital needs. Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice monthly. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800.688.0900.
To make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org. Can’t donate blood? You can still support NYBC’s mission by texting ‘NYBC’ to ‘20222’ to give $25.
