August 4, 2005

Living on the edge in Northern California:
31 days with less than a day’s supply of Type O blood

No earthquake, no terrorist attack, and no plane crash. The staff at the American Red Cross Blood Services, Northern California Region, has been keeping their fingers crossed throughout July that there would be no mass trauma situations here.

“We have not had enough Type O blood to meet the daily needs of local patients, let alone provide blood for a major disaster, whether natural or manmade, since June 30,” said Sara O’Brien, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross. “This is an unnecessary balancing act in which people’s lives are at stake.” Today is the first day the Red Cross has had just over a day’s supply of Type O Positive blood, but the Red Cross has not yet brought in a day’s supply of O Negative blood, the most needed type in the ER.

Waiting until tragedy strikes to give blood doesn’t help accident victims, cancer patients or burn victims who need blood on a daily basis. Blood donations are tested for up to 72 hours to ensure purity before the pint is released to a hospital. “Every day, there are reports of innocent by-standers being shot or stabbed during a crime. That could be any one of us in need of blood to save our life,” said O’Brien.

The Red Cross reports an influx of donors making appointments in their centers for the next few days, but encourages potential donors to make appointments throughout August. In response to the higher than usual call volume, the Red Cross will open its Pleasanton blood center (usually closed Mondays), near the Stoneridge Mall (5556-B Springdale Ave.) today from 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. and welcomes more donors at that site.

Mobile blood drives are scheduled throughout Northern California to make it more convenient for donors, yet attendance is still weak at these drives.

Joining in to help out, the Oakland A’s will be hosting a blood drive on Sunday, August 14 before and during the game against the Minnesota Twins. The first 25 people to make an appointment by August 6 will receive a free ticket to the game.

“Donors are needed every day, every week. We will need a strong turnout of donors throughout August to replenish our dangerously low blood supply,” said O’Brien.

To find a mobile blood drive, center locations or to make an appointment to donate blood, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543) or go online to www.BeADonor.com.

The Stanford Blood Bank will be at PW Supermarket on Via Valiente at Almaden Expressway on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.