Severe Weather Disrupts Blood Supply

Regional blood shortage could develop due to severe weather in central and southern Alabama

 

President Bush was among those consoling tornado victims in Enterprise. --Decatur Daily

(March 2, 2007) -- Birmingham, AL — Due to severe weather including tornados in central and southern Alabama, the Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region of the American Red Cross has been forced to cancel several blood drives, thus creating the potential for a shortfall in meeting hospital requests for blood and blood products.

On March 1, 2007, severe weather on the leading edge of a front generated threatening severe thunderstorms and tornados in several areas in the southern half of the state. In the interest of safety for both donors and American Red Cross staff, several drives were cancelled, which resulted in the loss of approximately 300 critically-needed units of blood.

“We just can’t take chances when it comes to the safety of our donors and our staff,” said Evan Duffy, Senior Communications Specialist for the American Red Cross. “But because of these cancellations, we are going to find ourselves in a pinch in terms of collecting the blood we need to supply the more than 100 hospitals we serve in our region.”

The American Red Cross Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Blood Region has been asked to send blood components to hospitals in the area where a tornado destroyed Enterprise High School and a portion of the town.

In order to offset the losses incurred due to the weather and to supply hospitals in the tornado stricken areas with life-saving and life-sustaining blood components, the American Red Cross is asking that all eligible donors give at scheduled blood drives and American Red Cross donor centers over the remainder of March in order to make up for the units lost on March 1. For more information on blood donation, or to find a blood drive near you, please visit web.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

In order to give blood, one must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in overall good health. Donors must present a photo ID or an American Red Cross donor card when donating. If you cannot give, recruit someone to give in your place. For the 48 hours prior to donation, double fluid intake. Eat a nutritious meal the night before as well as the day of blood donation.

For blood drives in your area, please visit the Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region website at web.redcrossblood.org to view a drive listing. Donors can also give at one of 16 donor centers across the Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region. To schedule an appointment, to learn more about blood donation or to find a blood drive in your area, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit web.redcrossblood.org.

Remember, when you give blood, you give someone the gift of life. There really is no greater gift one can give.

Together, we can save a life