by Jared Rutecki

Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine Community Health Programs’ (CHP) COMCorps and Ohio Athletics are teaming up to help shore up Ohio’s blood supply. The Central Ohio blood inventory has critical shortages of blood types, including AB negative, which is virtually nil.

COMCorps, an AmeriCorps program, and Ohio Athletics are sponsoring a Red Cross “Welcome Back” Blood Drive that will be held Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Convocation Center. The goal of the drive is to collect a minimum of 125 units of blood each day.

Those donating blood during next week’s drive should be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. A photo id with birth date is required to donate, and donors may only give blood once every 56 days. Those wishing to donate should schedule an appointment by calling (740) 593-0536 or (800) GIVE-LIFE. Appointments also can be made online at www.givelife.org. Walk-ins are encouraged, too.

“This need is crucial. We really need students to donate,” says Nancy Schell, CHP director of COMCorps. “We hope this blood drive will draw in first-time donors.”

“Right now, blood is in very short supply. We are in a critical shortage.”

The Central Ohio Red Cross has less than a three-day supply on hand for all blood types except B positive, which is barely above the recommended minimum. It is estimated that one pint of blood can save up to three lives.

About 4 million people in the United States need blood each year, so a blood product is used almost every two seconds. Blood shortages also occur frequently in the summer and during holidays, because donors are busy. But the need for life-saving donations, says Schell, does not diminish.

Donors can register with Athletics or OhioHealth to win one of four prize packs, which include university team memorabilia and free Blue Jackets pre-season tickets. Other prizes include an autographed hockey puck and a certificate good for a one-hour massage, provided by OhioHealth. Paramount’s Kings Island is raffling 10 pairs of tickets each day of the drive, good for a visit any weekend in October of this year.