Karen Reed heard on the news a request for blood donors to help relieve the blood shortage across the nation.

Reed, who helps with Panther Catering, decided to give blood Tuesday afternoon in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Reed had not given blood since 1994.

In the American Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region, the current overall blood supply is set at less than two days; however, type O negative has less than a half a day’s supply and the supply is at only .32 days.

Tinley Hanks, donor recruitment representative for the American Red Cross, said the Red Cross has to make sure the blood that is needed is on hand, but with O negative that is tough to do.

“When you have less than half a days supply, one major accident can wipe you out,” Hanks said.

O negative is the universal blood type. Everyone can receive this blood type.

Hanks said if the blood type of the patient is unknown, usually in an emergency situation, they can be given O negative.

Because of this, this blood type is in high demand.

“It seems to go out the door pretty fast,” Hanks said.

Jim Williams, manager of communication for American Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Region, said the Red Cross likes to have a five to seven day overall supply of blood. The Missouri-Illinois region currently stands at 1.81 days of blood.

Williams said while the blood levels are low they are not yet critically low.

However, if there was icy weather for two days and people were unable to get out and give blood, the Red Cross would be out of blood.

Williams said as a whole there is a national blood shortage and the entire blood supply needs to be increased.

If the blood levels continue to fall, surgeries would eventually be canceled, he said.

Winter weather and holidays are big factors in the shortage, Williams said.

This is why January has been National Volunteer Blood Donor Month since 1970, because the Red Cross typically sees a drop during the holidays and winter months.

Williams said the Red Cross relies on schools for 22 to 25 percent of their blood supply; however, during holidays, schools are closed and blood drives are canceled.

Hanks said flu season and bad weather often affect donors from getting out to donate.

The only way the Red Cross can receive blood is through donations.

A study at the University of Minnesota showed only 38 percent of the population is eligible to give blood.

Less than five percent of those eligible actually do donate, Hanks said.

And this percentage continues to decline during the winter.

The American Red Cross, Alpha Tau Omega and the Office of Orientation sponsored the blood drive in the University Ballroom.

Bradley Hill, junior industrial technology major and member of Alpha Tau Omega, gave blood for the first time Tuesday.

He said he has never been a big fan of blood and that is what stopped him before.

Hill said he was a little nervous but that was not going to stop him.

“One pint of blood saves three people’s lives,” Hill said.

Bryan Miller, associate professor in biology and sponsor for the American Red Cross drive committee, has been helping for at least 15 years.

He said there is always the need.

“It’s the easiest way in the world to save a life,” Miller said.

There will be blood drives on campus February 5 and 8.

Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7945 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.

Senior Special Education major Amanda Lefevers participates in the American Red Cross blood drive Tuesday afternoon in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King, Jr. University Union. (Erin Matheny/The Daily Eastern News)

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