RED CROSS FACES BLOOD SHORTFALL AFTER HURRICANE SANDY
The Suffolk News-Herald reports that Hurricane Sandy forced the cancellation of over 300 blood drives on the east coast, leaving the American Red Cross short of about 9,000 units of essential blood and platelets. Red Cross is now asking for blood donors all throughout the region to make up for the gap and ensure that those most affected by the storm have access to the medical resources they need. In a statement, American Red Cross Mid-Atlantic Blood Services Region CEO Page Gambill said, “As our community recovers from the storm, we need to help the blood supply recover, too. It was the blood on the shelves that helped save patients’ lives when the hurricane hit, and it will be the blood on the shelves when the next disaster — large or small — strikes.”
All blood types are needed, especially O positive, O negative, A negative and B negative, according to the release.
Upcoming blood drives include the following:
Nov. 2, Point Harbor Community Church, 2705 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, 2 to 7 p.m.
Nov. 4, St. Therese Catholic Church, 4137 Portsmouth Blvd., Chesapeake, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Nov. 6, Franklin Baptist Church, 208 N. High St., Franklin, noon to 6 p.m.
Nov. 7, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, 3373 Pruden Blvd., Suffolk, 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Nov. 13, Southside Baptist Church, 917 Carolina Road, Suffolk, 2 to 7 p.m.
To make an appointment for these or other blood drives, visit www.redcrossblood.org.
The American Red Cross is also accepting donations to support disaster relief. Donors can visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
LINK:
http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2012/10/31/red-cross-we-need-blood/
= new reply since forum marked as read
but was told after a severe case of RMSF (Rocky Mountain Fever) not to give blood because of antibodies.
So you guys with good blood get on this. 
