American Red Cross Blood Services Supports The Blood Needs Of Southern California

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Also Included In: Blood / Hematology;  Public Health
Article Date: 27 Oct 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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The American Red Cross Blood Services national system continues to aid southern California with shipments of blood products into the area from across the United States to help stabilize the local blood supply. Blood drives in southern California have been curtailed due to the wildfire situation, and as a result, donations from residents in the area are limited.

The American Red Cross nationally has provided nearly 2,000 blood products to date to support the efforts of the Southern California Blood Region. Patients suffering from burns often need transfusions of plasma and platelets and the American Red Cross, along with other blood collection agencies, are providing for this need. In addition, shipments of red cells are being sent to the area to help meet the ongoing needs of patients at local hospitals and transfusion centers until the wildfire situation is resolved.

At this time, the American Red Cross is able to meet the requirements of its Southern California Region. However, there may be an increase in demand for blood over the next few weeks as area hospitals that cancelled elective surgeries due to the fires reschedule these procedures. In order to help keep the southern California blood supply at an adequate level, and to ensure your local community blood supply is stable, it is important for eligible donors to make appointments to donate blood over the next several weeks.

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org