RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — As we continue digging out from this winter storm, Virginia Blood Services needs your help. They are trying to re-stock the empty shelves at hospitals across the commonwealth.
Virginia Blood Services is one of the commonwealth’s largest providers of blood and needs donations. Every two seconds, someone across the country needs blood.
“Our supply was maintained pretty well through the storm,” said Chelsea Sheppard, Medical Director for Virginia Blood Services. “We were able to maintain all of our obligations and we made it through the storm quite well.
“Now we are trying to refill our blood inventory.”
Supplies of blood and platelets are dwindling because of the massive snow storm. Donation centers were closed throughout the weekend, and not as many people could come in to donate because schools and businesses were closed. They did their best to get everyone ahead.
“We called a lot of the donors who had appointments and asked them to come out early before the storm hit,” Sheppard added. “Also, our hospital partners were invaluable helping us to be good stewards of the blood supply. So, we’d really like to thank both those groups and encourage anyone who would like to donate blood to come out and donate with us.
Midas of Richmond is teaming up again with Virginia Blood Services with six blood drives planned this year. The first is this Saturday, January 30. Click here for a list of all six blood drives.
The blood types most in demand are Type O negative and positive as well as Type A negative and Type B negative.
