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Type "O"s

Do you know how many people depend on you?

• Blood group (or type) O is the Universal Donor. Patients of any blood type can receive type O blood.
  
  
• The demand for type O blood exceeds the supply. While about 45 percent of the North American population has type O blood, more than 50 percent of the transfusion are type O. During the summer months and over long holiday weekends, emergency blood needs increase, just as donations usually fall as regular donors are on vacation.
  
  
• The largest of the 11 hospitals supplied by Inova Blood Donor Services, Inova Fairfax Hospital, transfuses over 80 units of blood daily.
  
  
• Type O negative blood is often the best transfusion choice for newborn infants. More babies are born at Inova Fairfax Hospital than at almost any other East Coast hospital.
  
  
• Trauma patients may require large amounts of blood and components in a very short time. To deliver emergency care, the type O supply must always be ready. Inova Blood Donor Services supplies blood to two Level I Trauma Centers: Inova Fairfax Hospital, the only Level I Trauma Center in Northern Virginia, and Suburban Hospital in Maryland. Inova Blood Donor Services also provides blood to other area hospitals with active emergency rooms.
  
  
• Type O negative must be available for extreme emergencies when there is not time to type and crossmatch the patient. So critically injured patients can be transfused during transport, the Inova helicopter caries O negative blood.
  
  
• One blood donation cares for two or more patients who absolutely depend on the generosity of volunteer donors. To someone, your blood donation is a matter of life.
  
  
• There is a very severe shortage of type O blood in our community. Please make your donation appointment now or call lnova Blood Donor Services at 1-866-BloodSaves (866-256-6372)