Bay Area Blood Supplies Critically Low

January 16, 2007

Blood Centers of the Pacific Reporting Less Than a Half-Day’s Supply

Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) is asking for immediate blood donations of all blood types to boost critically low blood supplies. As of this morning, BCP is reporting:

• A deficit of more than 450 pints of blood
• Rationing of blood to the 41 hospitals it serves
• Heavy usage of blood due to traumas, including car accidents, as well as several organ transplants
• Inability to receive blood imports from outside the state, which usually make up 20 percent of the Bay Area’s blood supply
• Serious concern over region’s ability to respond to an emergency, such as a natural disaster

Typically, January, which is also National Blood Donor Month, brings blood shortages to metropolitan areas, as many regular blood donors are hit with the flu and bad weather across the country makes the normal practice of sharing blood more difficult. 2007 has proved no different.

Blood donations are used to treat trauma patients, those undergoing organ transplantation, new mothers and their babies, and cancer patients, among others. BCP must provide 500 pints of blood every day to area hospitals to ensure they have an adequate supply.

Blood Centers of the Pacific is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides volunteer blood donations to patients in 41 hospitals throughout Northern California. BCP has donation locations throughout the region.

To donate blood, call 888-393-GIVE or visit www.bloodcenters.org.

Contact: Lisa Bloch, BCP
415-749-6612