Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama donates at the Central California Blood Center. Photo via CCBC

In honor of National Blood Donor Month, the Central California Blood Center (CCBC) is once again imploring those with O-positive and O-negative blood types to donate.

“This month is also a time to encourage new and lapsed donors to donate blood during one of the most difficult times — the ‘tripledemic’ of influenza, COVID-19, and RSV,” said Arax Martirosian, director of marketing and donor recruitment. “The winter months are always difficult to maintain a sufficient blood supply, but this year we are significantly below average in donations. This is when the public can step up and help us heal people in need.”

According to the American Red Cross, O-negative blood is in such high demand because it is used most often during emergencies and is a universal donor, while O-positive blood is the most frequently occurring blood type.

Blood donors help patients over a variety of ages and afflictions including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer, sickle cell, and patients battling chronic diseases.

In 2022, the American Red Cross made history by declaring the first-ever blood donation crisis amidst the Omicron surge. Amid this crisis, doctors were forced to choose who received blood transfusions and which patients would need to wait until more products became available.

CCBC will be giving away exclusive “Super Donor” lanyards this January, while supplies last, to all blood donors.

The Central California Blood Center provides blood and services to patients receiving care at more than 20 hospitals and a network of facilities in Fresno, Tulare, Madera, Kings and Mariposa counties.

According to the CCBC, 5,000 to 6,000 pints of blood must be collected per month to meet the needs of patients in the Central Valley.

For more information and where to donate, visit the CCBC website.