American Red Cross Supplies Blood Needs for Shooting Victims

The Arizona Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross successfully provided the blood needed to treat patients connected to today’s shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. 

The next step is to replenish type O blood.

“Hospitals requested additional units of types O positive and O negative blood earlier today in response to the shootings,” said CEO Darrin Greenlee, “and because of the everyday generosity of Arizona donors, we were able to fill the hospital orders from our existing supply.  However, we will need the community’s help to begin replenishing specific blood types used today by area hospitals.”

The region anticipates that it can continue to adequately fill all local hospital blood needs, but because of the extra units used today, it will need to start tomorrow to replenish its supply of O positive and O negative blood.   

The region’s two blood donor centers in Tucson will be open Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those persons who already had blood donation appointments scheduled and for non-scheduled donors with type O negative and O positive blood only.  The donor centers are located at Foothills Mall, 7401 N. La Cholla Blvd. and at 7139 E. Broadway Blvd. 

“We would greatly appreciate it if persons with other blood types would schedule donation appointments at existing blood drives later in the week.  This will allow the Red Cross to focus tomorrow on collecting the two specific blood types most needed,” said Greenlee. 

Donors can schedule donation appointments online.