Georgia Needs Type O Blood

Every two seconds, a person in the U.S. needs blood, and you can help.  Currently, there is a massive shortage of blood in Georgia.  Without an adequate supply of blood for transfusion, many victims of trauma do not survive.

Atlanta Blood Services (ABS) in Sandy Springs is issuing a call to all Atlantans to consider donating whole blood.  All blood types are needed; however, type O blood is needed most.

"Type O” blood is known as the universal donor because it can be used to help people of all blood types and, therefore, it is so desperately needed in our hospitals every day,” said Carrie Cox, executive director of Atlanta Blood Services.  Individuals with rare blood types also are needed.

Blood shortage is an ongoing problem in Georgia, especially in the summer.  Because summer is a busy vacation season, there often are not enough donors to keep up with the demand.

Atlanta Blood Services was established as a community blood center in July 1998 with The Blood & Marrow Transplant Group of Georgia.  Since that time, ABS has continued to provide lifesaving blood components for patients including surgical patients, infants and cancer patients at Northside Hospital.  More than one million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year, many of whom require blood for treatment.

"If everyone who was eligible to donate did so two to four times a year, we would be able to maintain the supply needed and could avoid blood shortages completely,” said Cox. Blood donated at Atlanta Blood Services goes to serve patients at Northside Hospital.

Almost anyone over the age of 17 can donate blood, provided they are in good health and have not donated already within the last 56 days. 

For more information or to schedule a donation appointment, please call Atlanta Blood Services at (404)-459-8744 or visit www.atlantabloodservices.com.

The Northside Hospital health care delivery system is a not-for-profit health care provider that has served north Metro Atlanta for more than three decades.  With more than 1,800 physicians on its medical staff, Northside cares for more than 400,000 patients a year.  Our physicians and staff provide a full range of health care services, including women's services, cancer care, emergency services, surgery, specialty medicine and a wide array of outpatient services at many locations.   Northside Hospital offers high-quality health care at Northside Hospital-Atlanta in Sandy Springs, at Northside Hospital-Cherokee in Canton and at Northside Hospital-Forsyth in Cumming.