Maria Figueroa of American Red Cross prepares Debbie Rhodes for blood donation in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 9, 2013. (Ravell Call, Deseret News)
MURRAY, Utah — The Murray location of the American Red Cross will keep its doors open over the holiday to receive blood donations.
According to a press release, staff and volunteers will work to keep the blood donation center open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day because, “the need for blood doesn’t stop, not even on Christmas.”
“With all the excitement surrounding the holidays, blood donation often gets lost with all the obligations on time. This time of year, many regular donors will take a break from their normal routine and may not have a chance to donate,” said Salt Lake City-based Divisional Chief Medical Officer Dr. Walter Kelley in the press release.
To keep up with demand, the Red Cross is keeping the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter headquarters located at 6616 South 900 East open.
According to the American Red Cross, blood is needed to respond to patient emergencies about every two seconds in the United States.
Hospitals need all blood types to ensure they have all the blood they need.
Especially those with type O negative blood, the universal donor. Type O is the blood type medical responders reach for in the most serious situations.
And, Type O-positive blood can be transfused to any positive blood type patient and is also critical in trauma situations.
“We need blood donors more than ever at this time of year, to make sure hospitals have the blood that seriously ill children and adults will need over Christmas and the new year,” Kelley said in the release.
The American Red Cross Murray Donation Center, 6616 South 900 East holiday hours are:
• Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 6:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.