Blood Shortage Prompts Delay Of Certain Transfusions
Red Cross Urges People To Roll Up Their Sleeves
POSTED: 10:25 am CDT July 11, 2005
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The American Red Cross is asking hospitals in the New York-Pennsylvania region to delay some non-emergency transfusions due to a low blood supply.
As of Friday, there was less than one day's supply of type O blood, which is the most requested type of blood.The Red Cross said it needs at least a five-day supply of all types. It said until it gets more, it wants hospitals to delay all nonemergency transfusions of type O. One medical official said there isn't enough blood to meet "all routine hospital needs and respond to emergency traumas requiring larger quantities of blood."Blood donations decline in the summer due to vacations, holidays, and everyone's busy lifestyle, the Red Cross says. The blood shortages are also caused by the absence of high school blood drives and fewer students at college blood drives."During the school year, those drives supply anywhere from 15 to 20 percent of the overall blood supply," said Dr. Jerry Squires, chief medical officer of the American Red Cross Biomedical Services. "When schools are closed and college campuses are practically deserted, those blood donations go away, too."Although about 60 percent of the people in the United States are eligible to donate blood, only 5 percent do, according to the organization. Anyone at least 17 years old, weighing 110 pounds or more and feeling in good health may be eligible to donate blood.The American Red Cross strongly urges anyone who is eligible to give blood to call 1-800 GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment to donate.
As of Friday, there was less than one day's supply of type O blood, which is the most requested type of blood.The Red Cross said it needs at least a five-day supply of all types. It said until it gets more, it wants hospitals to delay all nonemergency transfusions of type O. One medical official said there isn't enough blood to meet "all routine hospital needs and respond to emergency traumas requiring larger quantities of blood."Blood donations decline in the summer due to vacations, holidays, and everyone's busy lifestyle, the Red Cross says. The blood shortages are also caused by the absence of high school blood drives and fewer students at college blood drives."During the school year, those drives supply anywhere from 15 to 20 percent of the overall blood supply," said Dr. Jerry Squires, chief medical officer of the American Red Cross Biomedical Services. "When schools are closed and college campuses are practically deserted, those blood donations go away, too."Although about 60 percent of the people in the United States are eligible to donate blood, only 5 percent do, according to the organization. Anyone at least 17 years old, weighing 110 pounds or more and feeling in good health may be eligible to donate blood.The American Red Cross strongly urges anyone who is eligible to give blood to call 1-800 GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment to donate. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
