Two-day supply termed unprecedented.
By: David Campbell
The University Medical Center at Princeton’s blood bank and the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey, warning of an unprecedented shortage in blood supplies, are appealing for donations to help alleviate what the Red Cross is calling a "critical situation."
Every day, blood is needed for trauma and accident victims, heart surgeries, organ transplants and treatments for leukemia, cancer and other diseases. Yet only about 5 percent of eligible donors give blood, the Red Cross said.
As of last week, the Pennsylvania-New Jersey region had less than a two-day supply of blood.
Even more critical, the region has only a one-day supply of Type O negative blood the universal blood type that can be used by any patient in emergencies, the Red Cross said.
"What many people don’t realize is that the blood used in an emergency needs to be on the shelves before the emergency occurs," said the Red Cross’s Brigid O’Neill-LaGier.
"Patients and doctors simply can’t afford to wait for blood to be donated, tested and distributed," Ms. O’Neill-LaGier continued. "The two to three days it takes to process blood may just be too long for a patient in need."
Dr. Rao H. Andavolu, director of the UMCP’s blood bank and president of the New Jersey Society of Blood Bank Professionals, said many hospitals and blood centers in the state are facing a bad situation that could quickly get worse.
"The level of blood for transfusions has decreased dramatically, and it is expected that the region in particular and the nation in general will face an unprecedented shortage of blood this summer," Dr. Andavolu said. "Although UMCP has not postponed any surgeries because of a lack of blood, other hospitals in the state may be facing this situation."
The blood bank director said the entire nation is also facing this shortage, so the region cannot get blood from elsewhere.
"It is very important that healthy adults spare some time and their good will to donate at least one unit of blood so that patients who need blood will have adequate supplies," Dr. Andavolu continued.
"Patients with cancers, adults with chronic lung and heart disease, and children with anemia depend on donated blood, not to mention patients who suffer injuries from accidents," he said. "It takes less than an hour for a person to donate blood that could help save many lives."
The UMCP operates a Blood Donor Program, and walk-ins are welcome on Tuesdays and Fridays at varying times. Call (609) 497-4366 for more information.
Donors may also visit the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey’s offices at 707 Alexander Road in West Windsor. To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call the Red Cross at (800) 448-3543 or contact www.pleasegiveblood.org.