DES MOINES, Iowa – With the summer quickly winding down, the need for blood donors in Iowa is up. Nichole Hanger, public relations and marketing specialist with LifeServe Blood Center, said there are generally fewer people who donate over the busy summer months, even though demand generally increases. “A person injured in a car accident can use up to 100 units of blood, so it’s really critical we have an ample supply,” Hanger said. “Not only to help that one patient, but cancer patients, and surgery patients.”

Hanger encouraged people of all blood types to consider donating; especially those with blood types “B-negative” and “O-negative.” “O-negative is the universal blood donor and it’s used most commonly for trauma and accident patients, newborn babies, and those that don’t immediately know their blood type,” said Hanger. “So, it’s critical we have a stable blood supply of ‘O-negative,’ but all blood types are needed throughout the year.”

LifeServe Blood Center provides blood and blood products to more than 100 hospitals across Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.