CHICAGO, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeSource Blood Services, the
organization that supplies blood products to more than 160 hospitals and home
health care agencies, reports an ongoing and severe decline in blood donations
primarily due to flu cases. Area health departments announced flu cases to be
at level 2. "The flu outbreak, combined with attentions focused on Y2K, have
taken its toll on blood inventories. Donors and donor groups were reluctant
to schedule appointments and sponsor blood drives during the last 2 weeks of
December and early January," stated William Portman, CEO LifeSource Blood
Services. "Our hope is that with Y2K behind us, organizations and donors will
step forward to help LifeSource to re-establish normal operating levels of all
blood products." LifeSource officials fear that donations will continue to
decline, thus jeopardizing LifeSource Blood Services' ability to supply the
necessary amount of blood products to area hospitals.
LifeSource's blood supply is critically below what is needed to meet the
current patient demand. This coupled with an increasing surgical schedule,
LifeSource Blood Services is counting on the support from both first time
donors and those who give regularly to re-build the blood supply. Until blood
collections produce the necessary volumes to provide a safe, adequate supply,
LifeSource is filling only stat orders for type O+ and O- blood types. Though
all blood products are needed, the greatest demand is for blood
types O-Positive, O-Negative, A-Negative and B-Negative. Platelets, a
component of blood that helps blood to clot, are also in critical demand, as
this product has a shelf-life of only five days. Blood centers across the
country are feeling the after-effects of the year-end holidays and Y2K.
Nationally Blood Centers are urging area residents to donate blood or
platelets immediately in an effort to replenish the depleted supplies.
LifeSource is encouraging all donors to donate at one of LifeSource's 22
community donor centers or at one of several mobile blood drives being held
throughout the region over the next several days to help bring local supplies
back to normal operating levels needed to support area hospitals and the
patients they serve.
The Illinois Tollway Authority has answered LifeSource's call for help.
Signs are being placed at tollbooths throughout the area, asking people to
"Make an Impact on Life" by donating blood. LifeSource officials hope that
the signs will encourage the tollway travelers to make time to donate blood.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old; weigh at least 110 pounds and be
in generally good health. The entire donation process takes about one hour.
For more information about the location and hours of mobile blood drives and
donation centers, call LifeSource Blood Services at 1-800-486-0680 or visit
the web site at http://www.lifesource.org .
SOURCE LifeSource Blood Services
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Related links:
http://www.lifesource.org
CONTACT:
Amy Gardner-Nummer of LifeSource Blood
Services, 847-803-7869, or pager, 708-399-7779
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