**CRITICAL NEED** ConnectLife puts out call for O- blood donors with WNY hospitals running short

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sarah Diina, 400-7249(c), sdiina@ConnectLife.org

**CRITICAL NEED**

ConnectLife puts out call for O- blood donors with WNY hospitals running short

The supply of crucial O- blood is running out at several Western New York hospitals, and ConnectLife needs the help of those universal donors to make sure it’s available for patients who need it.

As of the morning of July 3rd, local hospitals have less than a third of the O- blood that they aim to keep on the shelf. At some hospitals in Buffalo, that means as few as two units of O- blood available. The photo below shows the shelves in ConnectLife’s cooler where O- blood is stored.

O- blood is critical for hospitals because it can be given to any patient regardless of their blood type, which matters in situations when minutes or even seconds can make the difference between life and death. It also is the only type of blood that O- patients can receive, which means O- donors who give are making sure it’s available for someone just like them as well.

Donors through July 5th will receive an exclusive ConnectLife t-shirt, and all July donors get combination Bills bottle opener/coasters. One donor each day will also receive VIP passes to Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College.

All the blood donated to ConnectLife stays local. Appointments are available at centers in Williamsville, West Seneca, Tonawanda, along with mobile drives in different locations every day. To schedule an appointment, visit ConnectLifeGiveBlood.org or call 716.529.4270.

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ConnectLife helps people help others. As a federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organization and community blood bank, we save and enhance lives through organ, eye, tissue and blood donations.