BLOOD BANKING COMMUNITY ISSUES NATIONAL APPEAL
FOR IMMEDIATE DONATIONS TO ADDRESS WINTER BLOOD SHORTAGE

The nation’s blood banks, represented by the American Association of Blood Banks, America’s Blood Centers and the American Red Cross, are asking for immediate blood donations to boost already critically low blood supplies. This call to action comes at a time when blood is traditionally in short supply due to the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness. Individuals are asked to support their local blood centers by making and keeping an appointment to donate immediately. The American Red Cross Blood Services, New York-Penn Region joins its colleagues nationwide in calling for local donors.

"We are joining the blood banking community to emphasize the significance of the need to donate blood," said Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy G. Thompson. "The nation is facing critical shortages in communities across the country. If blood supplies do not immediately increase, patients, accident victims and those whose lives depend on regular transfusions, are at risk for not getting the blood they need. Every eligible individual should give blood, if not for themselves, for their friends, their loved ones or their neighbors."

National inventory levels have dropped well below a safe and adequate supply. Certain critical blood types are nearing depletion and in some areas of the country elective surgeries have been postponed or cancelled. The New York-Penn Region currently has only a one and one-half day supply of blood. It has placed blood types O negative and O positive on medical approval, requiring a Red Cross physician to approve the release of all units of those blood types requested by hospitals. Although no surgeries have been reported postponed in hospitals within the New York- Penn Region, a continued decline in collections could jeopardize future surgeries and medical procedures.

The blood inventory continues to drop due to a number of contributing factors, including: holiday travel, breaks from school, extreme weather conditions throughout the country and a decline in sponsor-scheduled blood drives.

Every day blood is needed in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to save the lives of accident victims. Giving blood is easy, safe and takes less than one hour, but only about five percent of eligible Americans donate blood. Donations are critically needed and the Red Cross is asking donors to please act now.

All current eligible and new donors are urged to schedule an appointment to donate blood today by calling 273-1900 extension 17. To see the current Tompkins County blood drive schedule, click HERE

Businesses and groups interested in organizing blood drives are asked to call Darla VanOstrand at 273-1900 ext. 17.