Critical Need for O Negative Universal Blood Donors for Community Blood Supply

Sterling, VA – Did you know that individuals with O Negative blood are universal donors, but are not universal recipients?  Those with O- blood can only receive the same blood type and currently, our community has a critically low supply.

Meet Jennifer: Jennifer is a mother, wife, sister, and friend in need of lifesaving blood products.  Two years ago, blood donors and a marrow donor saved her daughter’s life, but she never thought she would need blood herself.  But at 8 months pregnant, Jennifer has been diagnosed with Placenta Accreta, a condition that can cause severe hemorrhaging during childbirth and moms with this condition often require blood transfusions.  Jennifer is blood type O Negative, which means she can only receive O Negative blood.

To help people like Jennifer, if you have O Negative blood and are eligible to donate, please visit an Inova Blood Donor Center between now and June 7, 2018 to donate.

All blood transfused in hospitals comes from volunteer blood donors. Blood donations take less than an hour and can help save up to three patients.  Please make an impact on patients like Jennifer and other patients in our area who are in need of Universal Blood.

In order to sustain our patients and their needs, we need donors to boost the inventory of all blood types so we can continue to provide our hospitals with the life-saving blood components our patients need.

To make your appointment to donate blood or to learn more, please call 1-866-BLOODSAVES or visit inovablood.org

Who:   Inova Blood Donor Services
What:  Critical Plea for All Blood Type Donors
When: Immediately
Where: We have three center locations in Annandale, VA, Centreville, VA, and Sterling, VA.  To view hours, visit:  https://www.inovablood.org/donate-blood/where-can-i-donate/

Photo ID Required. Please allow one hour for your blood donation. If you have questions about eligibility or the donation process, please visit www.inovablood.org

Media Contact:  Tracy Connell, tracy.connell@inova.org

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Inova is a global leader in personalized health, which leverages precision medicine to predict, prevent and treat disease, enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. At Inova, we serve more than 2 million people each year from throughout the Washington, DC, metro area and beyond.

We are shaping the future of health through our integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services and destination institutes.  Our commitment to health and wellness is further reflected in our sustainable practices. Inova is home to world-class researchers, expert medical specialists and renowned scientists, who are driving innovation to improve patient care, prevent disease and promote wellness. For more information, visit inova.org, or find Inova on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.