NATION Blood shortage becomes critical

In northern Ohio, the ARC had only one pint of AB negative blood Monday.
The nation's blood banks, represented by the American Association of Blood Banks, America's Blood Centers and the American Red Cross, are asking for immediate donations to boost critically low supplies.
Travel experts said the Fourth of July weekend was the most traveled in nine years. And, as families vacation away from their jobs and homes, regular donations are down, organization officials said.
Going into the Independence Day weekend, supplies were at their lowest in several months.
Falling inventory
The American Red Cross had only about two days of all blood types available, and inventory has fallen even lower with the small number of donations given over the holiday weekend.
In northern Ohio, the Red Cross began Monday with less than a day's supply of seven of the eight blood types, including only one pint of type AB negative and just nine pints of type B negative, said Karen Kelley, manager of communications and marketing for the ARC's Northern Ohio Blood Services Region.
Vacationers
Many of the nation's blood banks are suffering from low supplies as usual donors vacation this summer. Nearly all of the 36 Blood Services regions of the Red Cross have been asking for donations in their local communities in recent weeks. Despite these efforts, an urgent need for all blood types remains.
The summer months are traditionally a challenging time for blood centers. During the school year, donations from high school and college students account for about 15 percent of Red Cross blood collections. In the summer, these groups become much more difficult to collect from, while the need for blood continues, officials said.
"The fact that all blood organizations are joining in issuing this message underscores the importance of this matter," said Karen Shoos Lipton, blood bank CEO. "We're asking eligible donors to schedule appointments to donate blood this summer."
"Right now, patients in hospitals across the country are helpless without the critical and immediate gift of lifesaving blood," said Marsha J. Evans, ARC president and CEO. "Blood needs to be on the shelves in anticipation of this need, and we can't do that without the donors coming in the door."
Easy and safe
Blood organization officials say giving blood is easy, safe and takes less than one hour. Only about 5 percent of the estimated 60 percent of eligible Americans donate blood, however.
To donate blood, one must be healthy, at least 17 and weigh 110 pounds or more. Contact any of the organizations listed to schedule a blood donation appointment: American Association of Blood Banks (866) 376-6968; America's Blood Centers (888) 872-5663; American Red Cross (800) 448-3543.