Central Blood Bank Calls on Donors to Help Prepare for Y2K

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Central Blood Bank Calls on Donors to Help Prepare for Y2K

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Though blood donations typically decline during the holiday season, Central Blood Bank, the non-profit organization that provides blood products and related transfusion services to over 40 hospitals throughout the region, is calling for additional blood donations over the next three weeks in an effort to build local blood supplies in advance of Y2K.

As part of their Y2K plans, local hospitals are expecting that a sufficient blood supply will be available in the early days of the new year. In response, Central Blood Bank is working to secure a five-day supply of blood in advance of January 1, 2000 to ensure that patient care will not be interrupted, should any Y2K challenges arise. Typically Central Blood Bank strives to have a three-day supply of blood on hand at all times. However, with the uncertain effects of Y2K and concerns about Pittsburgh's unpredictable weather, Central Blood Bank wants to be prepared with additional units of all blood types on hand in advance of the new year.

In order to meet this goal, Central Blood Bank is relying on the additional support of blood drive host groups as well as individual donors. Blood donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 103 pounds and be in generally good health. There is no upper age limit and most medications are acceptable.

While many local businesses, churches and community groups have answered Central Blood Bank's call for help by agreeing to sponsor mobile blood drives, more help is still needed. Area residents are urged to make time to donate blood over the next three weeks at one of Central Blood Bank's 19 community donor centers or at a mobile blood drive in their community.

For more information about donating blood or to schedule a donation appointment, call Central Blood Bank at 1-800-310-9551 or visit their web site at www.itxm.org .

Central Blood Bank is the non-profit organization providing blood products and related transfusion services to over 40 hospitals in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Mercer, Washington and Westmoreland Counties in Pennsylvania as well as selected communities in northern West Virginia and eastern Ohio. Seven hundred registered donors are needed every 24 hours in order to meet regional demand.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), December 14, 1999

Answers

There is a big push here in N. California, too. I'll probably visit the local center the last week of December while avoiding the stores.

-- Margaret J (janssm@aol.com), December 14, 1999.

I will add that the large hospital which uses this blood bank sent out an email this morning (I have blocked out the identifying information). There will be generator tests this weekend. If there are regional problems here, at least somebody GIs and is prepared. They have even offered extra child care for a weeek following rollover in case TSHTF. This place is not going down without a fight. I continue to be impressed and thankful. I just hope that we won't need to use any of it.

"This is to inform you that in case of a Y2K emergency, the following hotline telephone numbers have been established to communicate the status of ... building operating systems. The message will be updated periodically to keep patients, their families and faculty and staff informed of the status of the buildings systems. Please be certain to pass this information on to your staff and patient's families.

Patients and Families XXX/XXX-4Y2K

Faculty and Staff XXX/XXX-XXXX

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

XXXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX"

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), December 14, 1999.


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