Less Than 1-Day Supply Available

    NEW YORK, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to an alarmingly low inventory of
blood throughout the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, New York Blood
Center and its five regional operations* have issued an emergency appeal for
blood donations effective immediately.  Donors are urged to call
1-800-933-BLOOD (2566) to schedule a donation appointment at one of many
convenient locations in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and the Hudson
Valley.
    All Rh Negative blood is well below the minimum 5-day supply required to
adequately serve area hospital patients, with O Negative blood (which anyone
can receive in an emergency) at a less than 1-day supply, explained Dr. Robert
Jones, New York Blood Center President & CEO.  "This crisis has already forced
us to cut distribution of O Negative blood to area hospitals by 50% with even
deeper cutbacks looming."
    "We continue to work with existing donors and donor groups to boost
donations.  But we have seen a dramatic drop-off in donations this year.  The
falloff climaxed within the last few weeks when donations were 70% behind the
required level.  We simply cannot meet our vital, life-saving mission and
ensure quality health care delivery without an adequate blood supply," said
Dr. Jones.
    On average less than 2% of eligible people in New York and New Jersey
donate blood compared to the nationwide average of 5%.  "Our community has
long lagged behind the rest of the nation but today we are in a real crisis.
Blood is perishable {red cells last 42 days and platelets just 5 days} and
requires daily replenishment.  We simply need more volunteer blood and
platelet donors," Dr. Jones pointed out.

    Worst Blood Shortage Ever
    Blood inventories often dip after the winter holidays when people are
preoccupied with travel and celebrations or experiencing colds and flus.  And
this year also saw two storms over the Christmas-New Year's period.  Yet, New
York Blood Center faces additional challenges as its long-standing European
blood import program, known as Euroblood, ended late last year.  New Food &
Drug Administration guidelines banned donations from Europe due to a purely
theoretical risk of spreading mad cow disease via transfusion.  This guideline
has eliminated 25% of the metropolitan area's blood supply.  The greater New
York community is also still experiencing both human and emotional turmoil
related to 9/11 that have resulted in work relocations, layoffs and
dramatically reduced donations throughout the NY/NJ community.
    "We know all these factors combined contribute to the current crisis.  But
we still urge everyone eligible, and especially those who surged forward after
9/11, to make a donation now.  Without enough blood surgeries can be
cancelled, emergency rooms can be closed, and patients may have to get
type-mismatched transfusions," Dr. Jones pointed out.
    January is also National Volunteer Blood Donor Month and provides an easy
way to keep a New Year's Resolution to make a difference in the community.
Donors must be at least age 17, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good
general health.

    New York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the nation's largest, non-profit,
community-based blood centers.  It has been supplying clinical transfusion
services and close to 2,000 pints of blood and 200 platelets daily to nearly
200 hospitals in New York and New Jersey for almost 40 years.  NYBC is also
home to the world-renown Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute and the
National Cord Blood Program.  NYBC is not affiliated with the American Red
Cross.

    * New York Blood Center's regional operations include:
      Brooklyn/Staten Island Blood Services; Hudson Valley Blood Services;
      Long Island Blood Services; New Jersey Blood Services; and
      New York Blood Services.

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