MAJOR BLOOD SHORTAGE!

AMERICAN RED CROSS ISSUES URGENT APPEAL FOR BLOOD DONATIONS

Community Blood Supply at Crisis Level, Donors Needed Immediately

BALTIMORE, MD – July 14, 2008: Low donation rates throughout the summer have caused the community blood supply for all blood types to drop to a crisis level this week. The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region (GC&P) of the American Red Cross is reporting just a few hours supply for types O negative, and less than one day supply for type A, B, and O positive. The current blood supply is inadequate to meet the needs of hospitals in the area, and in some cases procedures may be delayed until the blood supply is replenished. All eligible donors are encouraged to call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) to schedule a blood donation appointment immediately. Platelet donors may call 1-800-272-2123. In response to the appeal, the American Red Cross is expanding hours at local donor centers. Please visit www.my-redcross.org for the current hours and blood drive schedule.

“We have seen a steady decline in the blood supply throughout the summer, and despite efforts to increase blood donations, collections have not been able to keep pace with utilization in the Region,” says Gary J. Ouellette, C.E.O for the Region, referring to the causes of the current blood shortage. “Although we typically see a decline in blood donations over the summer, patient need remains the same and can often increase. We have been working diligently with our community partners to communicate the increasing urgency of the situation, but so far the response has been inadequate. We are truly in a very critical situation at this point, and need the public to understand the urgent need for blood donations today.”

“We have been unable to keep any blood on our shelves, as soon as it is processed we are sending it out to hospitals,” says Page Gambill, Director of Hospital Services for the GC&P Region. “This makes it very difficult for us to prepare for the types of emergencies that happen every day, such as a transplant or a trauma patient that can use significant amounts of blood.” It takes three days to process a donated unit of blood, and the Red Cross needs to have blood available on the shelves in advance to meet sudden patient needs.

Low appointment schedules and no shows, most likely due to sunny weather and family vacations has resulted in declined blood collection throughout the Region. Each day, countless trauma victims, cancer patients, premature babies and surgical candidates rely on the availability of blood for transfusion. Eligible donors are asked to call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543) to schedule a donation appointment.

WHO CAN GIVE BLOOD?
Donors must:

-Be in generally good health;
-Be at least 17 years of age, or, in the state of Maryland only, 16 years of age with parental consent
-Weigh no less than 110 pounds;
-Have NOT received a tattoo within the past year;
-Have NOT donated whole blood within the past 56 days.

In addition to asking individual members of the community to donate blood, the American Red Cross strongly encourages businesses and community groups to schedule and organize blood drives. Any groups interested in scheduling a drive or obtaining further information is asked to call 1-800-787-9282, ext. 4925.

Visit www.my-redcross.org