U.P. Regional Blood Center has a critical need

MARQUETTE — The blood supply in the Upper Peninsula is extremely low at the moment, and the U.P. Regional Blood Center is looking for some help.

At the moment, it has enough blood to last for several days. However, that supply needs to be replenished constantly.

The center said last week that it was in critical need of O–negative blood, and that the need was highest in Escanaba, Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie.

“Actually, we are going through a period when we are in need of all types,” blood collection coordinator Sallie Coron said. “It seems like the need is continuous; it doesn’t go away and I wish I could say it was one type, but it’s actually all types right now.”

You can only donate every 8 weeks and you have to weigh at least 110 pounds. The time of year may be holding the number of donors down.

“I do think the holidays play a lot on the reason why our blood supply is low,” Coron said. “And it is cold and flu season right now. There’s a lot of people out that are sick, have the flu, have a cold, and with those types of illnesses or any type of illness, you cannot give blood.”

The U.P. Regional Blood Center has locations Marquette, Escanaba, Hancock, Iron Mountain and Sault Ste. Marie. You can also stop into the Bloodmobile that the center takes on location throughout the Upper Peninsula. It was in Newberry for a blood drive today.