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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2006
DAYTON, OH — (Wednesday, July 12, 2006) The area blood supply is still 1,106 pints low leaving hospitals with a limited supply of blood. Community Blood Center (CBC) has had to cut hospital orders for blood by as much as 90% due to the short supply. However, CBC has not asked hospitals to cancel elective surgeries. Yesterday, CBC registered 617 donors and collected 485 usable pints of blood while area patients used 245 pints.
“We dodged a very real threat to the blood supply yesterday when the storms passed through our area,” stated Judith Woll, CEO of Community Blood Center. “If there had been a number of severe storm related injuries, it very well could have wiped out the area’s remaining blood leaving area patients vulnerable. It’s critical that area residents help us fill the shelves so that blood is there when it’s needed.”
A less than a one day supply of most blood types on Monday prompted CBC to announce an immediate emergency appeal for blood donors. Currently, the area’s blood supply is 1,106 pints or 31% below safe and adequate levels. The inventory of type O+ (39% low) and O- (30% low) blood is over 598 pints below ideal levels or at ab
CBC attributes the shortage to lower than needed donations especially during the week of the July 4 holiday during which CBC collected 500 pints less than during a typical week. In addition, the end of June had lower than normal collections.
CBC is asking healthy donors who have not given blood in the past two months to donate blood at this time. Donors need to bring a photo ID with their full name and their Social Security Number. A list of area community blood drives and donation locations is attached. CBC-Dayton, 349 S. Main St., is extending hours until 7:00 p.m. tonight through Thursday night.
Donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in good physical health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically. Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to email canidonate@cbccts.org or call 1-800-388-GIVE. Prospective donors with recent tattoos obtained in Kentucky or Ohio can now give blood as long as the tattoo area has healed and the procedure was done in a licensed tattoo parlor.
Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services, an independent, not-for-profit organization, is registered to ISO 9001:2000. Community Blood Center provides blood products to 25 hospitals in the Miami (Ohio) and Whitewater (Indiana) Valleys. For more information about Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services, visit www.cbccts.org.
Please call the center nearest you to make an appointment.
Copyright 2005 Community Blood Center
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