Red Cross issues anxious call for blood donations

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jul 4, 2006 | by Rebecca Vesely, STAFF WRITER

The American Red Cross of Northern California is issuing an urgent call for blood donations, saying that flooding in Northeastern states and a slow holiday week are resulting in dangerously low blood supplies.

The Red Cross blood bank has less than a one day supply for some blood types -- O-negative and B-negative -- and needs all types. A three-day supply is the optimum blood inventory level.

Blood shortages are not uncommon for this time of year because there are no drives at college campuses and high schools.

Hot weather in recent weeks forced the cancellation of some drives. Flooding in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia is diminishing national supplies.

And because the July 4 holiday falls on a Tuesday, many corporate donors have written the whole week off, said American Red Cross spokeswoman Kathryn Cale.

"All those things pile up," Cale said. "If we had a major emergency now, we'd be sunk."

The Oakland A's held a blood drive at Sunday's home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, offering two free tickets to the first 60 donors as an incentive. But the Red Cross only got 10 pints of blood, or blood from about 10 donors.

"It was pretty bleak," Cale said.

The Red Cross is holding drives today from 7 a.m. to

1 p.m. in Newark, Pleasanton and Pleasant Hill. Additional drives later this week are scheduled for Berkeley, Alameda and El Sobrante.

Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health.

For more information about upcoming blood drives and to schedule an appointment, visit http://www.BeADonor.com or call 1-800-GIVE- LIFE.

Contact Rebecca Vesely at rvesely@angnewspapers.com