FLAGSTAFF — While nearly 60 percent of Hispanics have blood type O, the most needed blood type for emergencies and transfusions, less than 1% currently donate in Arizona, according to officials from the American Red Cross. To improve that percentage, and save lives, the organization brought its Los Donates (The Donors) campaign to Northern Arizona.
A ceremony celebrating the event was held on Thursday, Sept. 18 at the International Pavilion at Northern Arizona, featuring a variety of community leaders touting the need to increase blood donations by local Hispanics.
The event was held just outside a room where more than 75 NAU student, faculty and staff had signed up for the campus-wide blood drive. An additional 76 were scheduled to donate blood on Friday.