American Red Cross Reports 3000 Pint Deficit Throughout New England

Unanticipated Shortage Has Led to Shipment Cuts To Local Hospitals

The American Red Cross Blood Services, Northeast Division issued an urgent statement today regarding the status of the blood supply throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut.

"During September, blood inventories have declined by 3000 pints, leading to cuts in hospital shipments of up to 50%," said Donna M. Morrissey, spokesperson for the American Red Cross Blood Services, Northeast Division. "This shortfall comes on the heels of a comparable decline in donations in August. Currently we are unable to meet most hospital standing orders and are asking for everyone's help to turn this critical situation around."

At present, blood supplies in the Northeast Division are at less than a day's supply for most blood types. With other parts of the country also experiencing shortages, imports from other Red Cross regions has also declined. The Red Cross has notified the approximately 200 hospitals and medical centers within the Northeast Division, alerting them of the shortage.

2000 units of blood must be collected each day to meet the basic needs of hospitals throughout New England. The only source of blood is a healthy volunteer donor. Patients must rely on the generosity of neighbors to make sure they will have the blood they need.

According to Irwin Gross, M.D., Medical Director of Transfusion Services at Eastern Maine Medical Center, "The state of the region's blood supply has impacted Eastern Maine Medical Center's ability to overstock and respond to neighboring hospitals' emergencies." The American Red Cross works with selected medical centers throughout New England as overstock hospitals which, in turn, act as local distribution points for surrounding smaller hospitals.

Donated blood is used to help trauma patients, transplant recipients, and those receiving treatment for life-threatening illnesses. In the United States, blood is needed for transfusion every two seconds.

Blood donors must be 17 or older, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in generally good health. Please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to make an appointment to give "the

Gift of Life" or for more information. Walk-in donors are also welcome. Positive ID is required at the time of donation and a complete list of blood drives is available online at www.newenglandblood.org (or www.bloodct.org).

The mission of the American Red Cross, Northeast Division is to partner with the community to provide a safe and adequate blood supply for patients at over 200 transfusing hospitals and acute care facilities. The Red Cross relies entirely on volunteer blood donors to meet the transfusion needs of patients throughout New England.

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