The Fourth of July weekend is almost upon us. You might be packing to travel, or preparing for that huge barbeque you’re planning.
As you check off your to-do list, giving blood is probably not on it. But Chief Madical Officer of the Blood Center of Wisconsin, Dr. Tom Abshire, says it should be.
"During the summer months there's a lot of people gone and there's a lot of elective surgeries which happen in the summer, and so that's why we have a continuing need for people to donate during the summer months," he explains.
The BCW has been around since 1947, and the organization has a broader mission that goes outside of the realms of blood donations. According to Dr. Abshire, the BCW is heavily involved in patient research, blood disease research and treatment, laboratory testing, and a world-renowned diagnostic laboratory to name just a few of its roles in the medical community.
"The Blood Center of Wisconsin is like Switzerland to many medical organizations, hospitals and the like both locally and nationally," he notes.
Blood type O is the most common blood type, and the need for O-Negative (the universal donor type) is especially great. "That is a blood type that we always like to have enough of available," says Dr. Abshire.
At the moment, the BCW is planning for shortages because of the holiday weekend and summer activities where many people need blood due to emergencies and accidents. In order to keep up with the need for blood and avoid a shortage, Dr. Abshire strongly encourages all who are able to donate blood at your local center or blood drive.
