U.S. BLOOD SUPPLY CURRENTLY ADEQUATE TO HANDLE
DEMANDS RESULTING FROM HURRICANE RITA
Future Appointments Are Encouraged to Maintain Supply
Bethesda, Md. The AABB Interorganizational Task
Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism has determined
that blood supplies and current inventory levels are meeting
hospital needs in the wake of Hurricane Rita, which continues to
affect Gulf Coast and other southern states. However, the task force
is concerned that future supplies may dwindle because blood has a
shelf life of only 42 days. To maintain a healthy blood supply
level, the task force recommends that people who would like to help
should call their local blood banks to schedule an appointment for
the coming weeks and months.
The transfusion medicine community has concluded that local blood
banks located in the path of Hurricane Rita have enough blood to
meet medical need, said Donald Doddridge, chairman of the
Interorganizational Task Force. To ensure that we have an adequate
supply of blood to meet patient needs across the country, the task
force recommends that individuals who wish to help contact their
local hospital or blood center and schedule appointments in the near
future.
The need for blood will be ongoing, especially over the next few
weeks, as disaster victims require additional care, as deferred
elective surgeries are rescheduled, or if there should be any
further emergencies. The task force encourages donors and potential
donors to make giving blood a regular part of their lives. Those
interested in donating blood may contact the following organizations
to find a local blood collection site and to schedule an
appointment:
The task force was formed in January 2002 to make
certain that blood collection efforts in response to domestic
disasters and acts of terrorism run smoothly and are managed
properly, with the public receiving clear and consistent messages
regarding the status of Americas blood supply. It is composed of
representatives from various blood services and associations,
government agencies, and commercial entities who work together to
try to ensure that facilities maintain safe and adequate inventories
at all times in preparation for disasters, and have a mechanism in
place to assess the need for collections and/or transportation of
blood should a disaster occur.
AABB serves as the designated coordinating entity for the
Interorganizational task force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of
Terrorism. In addition to AABB, members include: AdvaMed, Americas
Blood Centers, American Association of Tissue Banks, American
Hospital Association, American Red Cross, Armed Services Blood
Program, Blood Centers of America/hemerica, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, College of American Pathologists, Department
of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, National
Marrow Donor Program and the Plasma Protein Therapeutics
Association.
In the event of an emergency situation, AABB immediately convenes a
meeting of task force representatives. Local blood center(s) are
responsible for ascertaining medical need based on casualty
estimates using pre-determined formulas, assessing available local
supply, and communicating that information to the task force.
In a disaster, the first priorities of the task force are to:
-
Verify and communicate to the blood community
the medical need for blood;
-
Identify sites with existing excess blood
inventory;
-
Determine the need, if any, for blood shipment
and the logistics of such shipments; and
-
Develop public messages and facilitate the
discussion of donor issues.
About AABB
Established in 1947, AABB (formerly known as the American
Association of Blood Banks) is an international, not-for-profit
association dedicated to the advancement of science and the practice
of transfusion medicine and related biological therapies. The
association is committed to improving health by developing and
delivering standards, accreditation and educational programs and
services that optimize patient and donor care and safety. AABB
membership consists of approximately 1,800 institutions and 8,000
individuals, including physicians, scientists, administrators,
medical technologists, nurses, researchers, blood donor recruiters
and public relations personnel. Members are located in all 50 states
and 80 countries.
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