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- The Red Cross of Utah urges blood donations amid increased holiday travel.
- Memorial Day weekend marked the start of Utah's '100 Deadliest Days of Summer.'
- Type O blood is crucial for emergencies, with hospitals on high alert.
LEHI – Memorial Day weekend officially kicked off what the Utah Department of Public Safety calls the "100 Deadliest Days of Summer."
This dangerous stretch, lasting through Labor Day, sees a dramatic rise in deadly car crashes. Last year alone, 92 people lost their lives during this period in Utah.
Urgent blood donations needed
As travel spikes, so does the need for life-saving blood donations. The Red Cross of Utah urged residents to consider donating blood, especially Type O — the universal blood type used in emergency situations.
On Memorial Day, the American Red Cross of Utah opened three of its donation centers for those wanting to donate in honor of service members and accident victims.
"There are many ways to pay tribute," said Heidi Ruster, CEO of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region and a U.S. Navy veteran, in a statement. "By donating blood, you not only honor our fallen heroes, but you also become a hero to those in need of lifesaving transfusions."
Surge in Memorial Day travel adds to the urgency
While an estimated 45 million Americans traveled this Memorial Day weekend, surpassing a 2005 record, hospitals remained on high alert.
According to the Red Cross, a single major accident can rapidly deplete a hospital's blood supply, making immediate donations crucial.
"It's not just on our roads. It's hiking on our trails, it's other accidents outdoors, and so the hospitals are even a little bit busier. But when we come into the emergency room, that blood that is already there on the shelf in that moment is one of the most important things to have," explained Benjamin Donner of the American Red Cross Central and Southern Utah chapter in Lehi on Monday.
Those willing to help can schedule an appointment through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or by visiting donation centers, or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The donation process takes roughly an hour, and teenagers aged 16 or 17 may donate with parental consent, provided they weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health.
Utah's holiday weekend crash data
As of Friday midnight to 4:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, the Utah Highway Patrol reported 151 crashes statewide and 65 DUIs.
Fortunately, there have been no reported fatal crashes thus far.
Why Type O blood is critical in emergencies
Donner emphasized the life-saving importance of Type O-negative blood and said it is the universal blood type used in emergencies when there's no time to determine a patient's blood type.
"So in that emergency setting, if someone's in the emergency room, that emergency physician, they're not going to know your type, your blood in that moment," Donner said. "So they reach for that universal blood donor, O-negative. That's the most critical, because, in that moment, that can save their life. Before they test to see what blood type they are, they can reach for that, keep that individual stabilized at that time, and then they can check what type of blood they are and match that going forward."
For those unsure of their blood type, Donner offered reassurance to first-time blood donors.
"If you're not sure what your blood type is, come donate and we'll tell you," Donner said. "We'll let you know what that blood type is, and you'll be able to know, hey, these are the individuals that I'm affecting."
