Nation facing blood shortage

NEW YORK - An ever-increasing demand for blood combined with summer's customary donor drop-off have created a critical nationwide shortage, blood bank officials said Monday.

The American Red Cross said there is a need for all blood types.

''Patients who need blood in emergency situations absolutely depend on a readily available supply,'' said Red Cross President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Bernadine Healy. ''No patient should ever be left to wonder if the lifesaving blood they need will be available to them.''

The shortage has reached crisis proportions in the New York metropolitan region, said Dr. Robert Jones, president and CEO of the New York Blood Center. He said the shortage has forced the center to reduce blood shipments to New York and New Jersey hospitals by as much as 75 percent.

''Unless there is an immediate and dramatic donation increase, these reduced blood shipments will continue or grow worse, placing hospital and trauma patients at severe risk,'' he said.

Red Cross officials said there are several reasons for the shortage including the fact that fewer donors are available with colleges and high schools not in session during the summer.

They said that despite an overall increase in collections this year, the supply has not kept pace with demand, in part because more advanced medical procedures such as organ transplants and cancer treatments are being performed.

The New York Blood Center, which is the majority supplier for 200 hospitals in New York City, Long Island, northern and central New Jersey and the Hudson Valley, currently has approximately 1,000 pints of O positive blood and 200 pints of O negative - a one-day supply.

''We typically like to have about a five-day supply,'' said blood center spokeswoman Linda Levi.

The Red Cross and the blood center are urging eligible donors to give blood. To donate blood one must be healthy, at least 17 years old and at least 110 pounds.