[23429] in APO-L
[APO-L] Service Need...
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Robert Dean)
Wed Jan 15 12:41:18 2003
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2003 12:41:08 -0500
Reply-To: rdean71@cs.com
From: Robert Dean <rdean71@cs.com>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
Brothers,
This came across the AP news wire today. Blood Drives would be excellent projects to undertake right now.
LFS,
Robert Dean
Cross-posted: APO-L, R6 List, TE List
Blood Banks Issue Urgent Appeal
Tue Jan 14, 6:27 PM ET
http://www.yahoo.com/s/52584
WASHINGTON(AP) - The nation's blood banks issued an urgent appeal for blood donations Tuesday, saying much of the country has less than a two-day supply on hand.
Some hospitals are postponing elective surgeries because blood supplies are so low, with less than a single day's supply in certain areas. Banks try to keep a five- to seven-day supply on hand.
In an unusual appeal, the nation's two main blood suppliers — the American Red Cross (news - web sites) and America's Blood Centers — joined Tuesday to urge prompt donations. The Red Cross said that during the past two weeks, its blood supplies have dropped by nearly half, while more than 60 percent of America's Blood Centers' banks report supplies of two days or less.
January is a traditionally tight month. The American Association of Blood Banks, in announcing the joint appeal, said this January seems worse than usual, partly due to winter storms that crippled collections in some areas.
Qualified donors can give blood once every 56 days. For information on donating, contact:
_American Association of Blood Banks, 1-866-FROM-YOU or http://www.aabb.org
_America's Blood Centers, 1-888-USBLOOD or http://www.americasblood.org
_American Red Cross, 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or http://www.redcross.org
