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Insufficient Blood Donations and Drives Result in Second Summer Emergency Blood Appeal
Blood rationing to deepen as donations dip 20% below need
New York Blood Center (NYBC) has announced this summer’s second urgent appeal for blood. July volunteer blood donations in the Hudson Valley community have been 20% below what is required for NYBC to meet local hospital demand, reported blood center officials. This slow community response has forced an even greater rationing of blood to area hospitals.
Summer 2004 is predicted to be the worst blood shortage in the 40 year history of the NYBC. They report that in neighboring Connecticut, type O blood was down to an 8 hour supply, an indication that we are reaching critical shortages all too often.
Dr. Robert Jones, New York Blood Center President and CEO explains, "We first began rationing distribution of B Negative blood in mid-May and issued our first appeal for blood in June. But public response has been slow, so we now have to increase B Negative blood cutbacks from 10% to 25%, begin limited distribution of O Negative and A Negative blood as well and issue this second emergency appeal."
Close to 100 additional drives are needed in August to fill hospital blood orders. Groups interested in hosting a blood drive with New York Blood Center should call 1-800-933-BLOOD. Blood donors may also call this number to find the most convenient place to donate in their area or visit www.nybloodcenter.org .
"Hospitals and patients throughout New York and New Jersey rely on New York Blood Center. Its projected August inventory of below 5,000 pints of blood, and little RH Negative blood available, is a very dangerous situation for our hospitals and can dramatically impact the quality of patient care delivered," noted Kenneth E. Raske, President, Greater New York Hospital Association.
Local efforts continue to plead for donors: The Summer Blood Drive at the North Highlands Fire Department, scheduled for August 6, from 3 - 8:30 pm is promising "Rosie the Riveter" tee shirts to encourage a high turnout at this time of tremendous need. Philipstown Community Blood Drive organizer Hans Moeller has reported that "there haven’t been nearly enough pledges" to attend the drive and that "the need is desperate with blood supplies down to days or even hours."
Blood donors must be at least age 17, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. All donors benefit from a free mini medical exam including review of their pulse rate, blood pressure, iron count and temperature.
New York Blood Center, established in 1964, is one of the nation’s largest community-based, non-profit blood centers. Through the support of its five regional operations, NYBC must collect close to 2,000 donations a day for patients in close to 200 NY/NJ hospitals.
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