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GEORGIA IS NOT READY FOR MAJOR EMERGENCY
An emergency call is being put out to all blood and platelet donors
(Wednesday, July 13, 2005) ATLANTA - The state of Georgia is never fully prepared for a major emergency as far as our blood supply is concerned, say American Red Cross officials. A supply of five-to-seven days of blood is needed for potential victims after a natural disaster, a large-scale accident or a terrorist attack. Red Cross inventories for type O and B blood continue to hover around a 12- to 18-hour supply. More blood and platelet donors are needed to give today.
“When there are terrible explosions like those in London, it is a stark reminder of how quickly and unexpectedly disaster can strike,” says Randy Edwards, chief executive officer for Red Cross Blood Services Southern Region. “One of our chief defenses is to be prepared for whatever may come by never allowing our blood supply to run short. It takes 48 to 72 hours for a blood donation to be processed and tested so it can be sent out to a hospital and it is imperative that donors give blood before disaster strikes, so it will be there when it is needed.”
Last year more than 55,000 units of blood had to be brought in from other states in order to adequately supply hospitals in the state just for the accidents, illnesses and surgeries that happen daily. The Red Cross reports there currently is a regional and a national blood shortage, which is requiring the organization to ration the blood distributed to local hospitals.
“When there is a shortage of blood nationwide, we are unable to find blood to bring in from other areas, which means that we have to rely on local donations. Unfortunately, we do not receive nearly enough donations to take care of daily needs, much less large-scale emergencies,” states Edwards. “There is a huge gap in what we collect and what our hospitals need and it could spell major disaster for Georgians unless more people start donating more often.”
Because blood cells regenerate, it is safe for a healthy person to give blood every 56 days or as much as six times per year. The Red Cross says that only two donations per year from all eligible donors here would eliminate blood shortages and prepare Georgia for any large-scale disaster that results in large numbers of injured people who need blood transfusions.
The American Red Cross collects blood at donor centers and blood drives held all over Georgia and then distributes the blood to 140 hospitals across the state. Blood donors must be age 17 or older and weigh at least 110 pounds. For more information and to find out how to make a donation appointment, please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1 800 448-3543) or visit www.givebloodredcross.org.
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