By Deborah Zabarenko
Reuters
 |
| Both the Red Cross and America's Blood Centers (ABC),
which together represent virtually all U.S. blood banks, reported
severe shortages at a season when blood supplies are usually
adequate. |
W A S H I
N G T O N, Sept. 19 — A critical shortage of blood has forced
the cancellation of elective surgeries in Los Angeles, Philadelphia
and Atlanta, the American Red Cross said today.
Both the Red
Cross and America’s Blood Centers (ABC), which together represent
virtually all U.S. blood banks, reported severe shortages at a
season when blood supplies are usually adequate.
One of
Worst Shortages
“This
is one of the worst ones that the Red Cross has seen,” Red
Cross President Dr. Bernadine Healy said in a telephone interview.
Healy said
32 of her group’s 36 regions were on appeal, which means
either they have less than a day’s supply of blood available
or they simply have inadequate supply to meet hospital demand.
Those cities
in urgent need include Los Angeles, Baltimore, Detroit, St. Louis
and Philadelphia, according to the Red Cross. ABC said there were
severe shortages throughout the Northeast.
Need to
Cancel Elective Surgery
She said the
Red Cross had advised hospitals to cancel elective surgery in
Los Angeles, Atlanta and Philadelphia.
The reason
for the shortage is increased demand, much of it due to the increased
number of complex therapies such as chemotherapy, organ transplants
and heart surgeries, which require large amounts of blood and
blood products, both groups said.
Just one liver
transplant can use 120 units of donated blood, ABC’s Melissa
McMillan said by telephone.
The increase
in demand far outpaces the increase in blood donations, Healy
said, with donations increasing annually by about 3 percent and
demand growing at 6 percent.
Behind
by 40,000 Units
The Red Cross needs 80,000 units on hand daily, but now has only
about 36,000 a day, according to Healy.
“People
often forget for how many medical procedures blood is a vital
necessity,” Healy said.
Blood shortages
are common during the summer months, when schools and businesses
are less likely to have blood drives, according to spokeswomen
for both the Red Cross and ABC.
But a crisis
in September is unusual and alarming, McMillan said.
Shortages
Uncommon This Season
“Shortages
at this time of the year are uncommon,” said McMillan said.
“It’s a bit frightening, to be honest.”
The Red Cross
got its message across in a stark advertisement in Monday’s
Washington Post : “URGENT: BLOOD APPEAL. This is a crisis.
More patients need blood and we urgently need your help. Please,
give blood right away.”
Those who
wish to donate blood can call the Red Cross at 1 800 GIVE LIFE.
They can also call ABC at 1 800 BLOOD 88 or contact its Web site
at http://www.americasblood.org
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