Hospitals in the Washington, D.C. area have voiced an urgent call to increase collections of blood supplies as they prepare for potential emergencies during the upcoming presidential inauguration weekend, reports WTOP.
Although donations of all blood types are needed, the need for type-O blood is most critical.
"I hate to keep using the word desperate, but we are desperate to increase our collections of type-O red blood cells," Terri Craddock, director of Inova Blood Donor Services, told WTOP.
Inova Blood Services, part of the Falls Church, Va.-based Inova health system, is the largest hospital-based blood center in the U.S., according to the report.
Ms. Craddock recommends using Inova's website to make an appointment to donate blood, as opposed to just walking in.