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Hundreds of Arizona blood donors needed amid urgent shortage

Getting paid for plasma: Repeat donors earning cash for blood
Posted at 2:10 PM, Jul 04, 2021
and last updated 2021-07-05 01:57:44-04

PHOENIX — Hundreds of blood donors in Arizona are needed over the July 4 weekend to help address a critical shortage of blood.

Vitalant, a nonprofit that collects blood for hospitals, said Friday that blood drives canceled because of the pandemic has continued to leave blood supplies low.

The organization said it has a two-day supply of Type O blood, the universal blood for emergencies and traumas, for 62 Arizona hospitals.

Sid Lewis, a director of donor recruitment with Vitalant, said regular blood donors go on vacation in the summer and heavy traffic on roads and highways increases the potential for accidents and the need for blood.