Grand Junction Blood Center Low on Two Blood Types

The St. Mary's Regional Blood Center is reaching out to Western Colorado residents with two specific blood types. It seems supplies are still very low and donations are needed.

A message went out via Facebook yesterday (April 24) at roughly 10 a.m.  The post was geared towards those in the area with O Positive and O Negative blood. The post reads:

The donor room is empty and our inventory is low! We do our best to keep our blood supply right where it needs to be, but every now and then we need a little extra help.
That's where you come in: we need your blood today! If you are an ONEG or OPOS blood donor, please give blood.

Check out the photo at top. Look at all those empty chairs. I took that photo about two years ago. I had the place entirely to myself. Let's fill those chairs up! The St. Mary's Regional Blood Center has an amazing staff. Typically, you can typically donate blood in less than 30 minutes.

I'm O Positive, as are many people. At this time, supplies are in short supply. Someone you know may need blood tomorrow... maybe you.

Have you donated blood before? If not, let me assure you, it's one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do. This list has been published many times before, but maybe it's time to run it again. These are my top five reasons why you should donate blood.

5. It's painless. Seriously, it doesn't hurt. Yeah, they have to poke a finger with a little needle to get a sample, and that's kind of a drag. Aside from that, you hardly notice anything.

4. The people at the blood bank are awesome.

3. You really do get free orange juice and cookies!

2. You never know when you might need blood. Wouldn't it give you real peace of mind to know there was blood waiting should you need it?

1. You literally are saving a life. How many times today will somebody need blood right here in Grand Junction? How about around the country? Will it be someone you know? A family member? Be proactive! Emergencies happen without warning, but that doesn't mean you can't be prepared.

It's time for my fellow O Positive peeps to step up and donate! Let's do this! I find myself very concerned with the urgency of these posts. In my mind, it's a matter of very basic math: A large percentage of people have O Positive blood, so it figures a large percentage of people in need of blood would be O Positive.

Stop by the St. Mary's Regional Blood Center at 750 Wellington Ave., Entrance 22, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. I typically walk in around 2 p.m. and have the place pretty much to myself. If you can't make it to the blood center, the Bloodmobile is out and about. Now's the time. Save a life and donate blood.