A blood shortage has cut a path through nine Illinois counties within the past two to three months due to the high number of traumas that require blood types O Positive and O Negative.

This is the worst shortage in 47 years, said Ann McKanna Aurora Heartland Blood Center recruitment director. The center has approached the media and contacted past donors to reduce this shortage, she said.

Presently, the center is in critical need of 400 units (donations) of blood type O Positive and 200 units of blood type O Negative, McKanna said. The rest of the inventory is normal, but that does not mean the other blood types are not needed, she said.

Everyday, the center tries to achieve its goal of 275 donors, 200 of which usually come from blood drives. It is important to help others who are less fortunate, McKanna said. “Anyone who is between the ages of 17 and 75 and in general good health can donate,” she said.

The basic requirements are that the donor is symptom free of cold, flu or allergies and weighs more than 110 pounds. McKanna said the center prefers that donors eat before giving blood. Also, anyone who has had a measles shot within the last month cannot donate.

NIU students usually donate about 4,000 units a year through blood drives. The drives are held in residence halls about once a week, McKanna said.

University Plaza will conduct a blood drive on Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. It is open to anyone, said Mike Borden, Director of Residential Life at University Plaza.

The plaza participates in the drives once a semester, “just to help out,” Borden said. “It is part of our community service.”

McKanna said, “There is no risk involved by donating blood. The needles and equipment are sterile.”

A female has eight to 10 pints of blood and a male 10 to 12 pints, but after a donation the body does not lose blood permanently. The red blood cells are restocked within four to six weeks and the fluid volume is replenished after 24 hours, McKanna said.

The center supplies to nine counties and 26 hospitals including Kishwaukee, Sycamore and Sandwich.

Carol Genis, Kishwaukee Hospital blood bank supervisor, said the blood shortage has affected the hospital because the stocks are down. Anything that affects the blood center also affects the hospital, she said.