Dominican Red Cross director Ligia Leroux is calling for the creation of an “O-negative Blood Donors’ Club”.
She said that potential donors must be identified because of the shortage of this blood type and the frequent urgent need to locate O negative donors in emergencies to save other people’s lives. She said the Red Cross is launching a public awareness campaign aimed at individuals and companies that may employ people with this blood type. She is optimistic the results will be positive and that more donors will come forward. She appealed to the media for support.
Leroux said that people with O-negative blood could only receive blood from another O-negative donor, but that they themselves were universal donors, meaning that they are compatible with all other blood types.
She urged people with O-negative blood type to contact the Dominican Red Cross and join the project.
“We want this blood type to be available when there is an emergency, for example an open heart surgery, or when there is a traffic accident,” she said. According to Leroux, there have been many cases recently where they have not been able to help patients, so they want to prevent these situations.
The Dominican Red Cross is located at Calle Juan Enrique Dunant #51, Miraflores in Santo Domingo, Tel 809 334-4545. The Blood Bank Tel is 809 412-8383. Their email is info@cruzroja.org.do
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2014/10/15/i838731_cruz-roja-impulsa-creacin-club-donantes-sangre-tipo-negativo.html