DETROIT, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross
Blood Services national system continues to ship blood products from across
the United States into southern California to help stabilize the blood
supply in the region affected by the wildfires.
The American Red Cross has provided nearly 2,000 blood products to date
in support of the efforts of the Southern California Blood Services Region.
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.
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 reschedule
elective surgeries which were cancelled this week due to the fires.
In order to ensure our local community blood supply is stable, and to
help keep the southern California blood supply at an adequate level, it is
important for eligible donors to make appointments to donate blood over the
next several weeks.
Currently, the American Red Cross Southeastern Michigan Blood Services
is shipping units of plasma, platelets and whole blood. Patients suffering
from burns often need transfusions of plasma and platelets. 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.
"With the interruption in blood collections in southern California, it
becomes even more critical that people make an appointment to donate life
saving blood," explains Diane Ward, CEO of the American Red Cross
Southeastern Michigan Blood Services Region. "We must be prepared for
emergencies with a 3 day supply of blood on the shelf here in Detroit-area
as well as helping out the fire-ravaged areas of California. We can't do
that without donors coming in the door. We need communities to help us
prepare so that our region can help ourselves as well as others."
Anyone 17 years of age or older, weighing 110 pounds or more and
feeling in good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please call the
American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543) or visit
http://www.givelife.org to schedule your appointment.
SOURCE American Red Cross
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CONTACT:
Bridget Tuohey, +1-313-576-4184,
+1-313-549-5414 (cell), tuoheyb@usa.redcross.org, or Martha
Roemer Kurtz, +1-313-494-2745, kurtzmr@usa.redcross.org, both of
the American Red Cross
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