(villagesoup.com) - by Beth Staples - Hurricanes Gustav and Ike have initiated a large and lengthy Red Cross relief operation, both in areas directly hit by the hurricanes and in those affected by the resulting flood activity.
This relief operation, coming halfway through the hurricane season, is likely to stretch well into the coming months.
One behind-the-scenes result of the storms has been the impact on the nation's blood inventory. Canceled blood drives in the affected areas have resulted in the loss of hundreds of blood donations. Thanks to a national system, the American Red Cross has shipped units of blood to the areas hit by hurricanes and flooding.
With blood inventory levels already below optimal levels following the Labor Day holiday, almost every Red Cross region has been affected by these disasters. To date, the Northern New England Region, comprising Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, has collected 1,000 units of blood, less than what was anticipated for September.
While patients' needs are being met, standing orders of Types O+, O- and A- blood have been limited to area hospitals at this time in order to conserve local inventory levels.
"The American Red Cross is most comfortable with a three- to five-day supply of each blood type," said Susan Parmer, a registered nurse and chief executive officer for the Northern New England Region. "This inventory level provides for local daily transfusion needs while allowing for quick response to local or national disasters. Currently supplies of most blood types are at less than a three-day supply. We urge eligible donors to make a point to give blood in the next few days and encourage nondonors to join in this lifesaving effort. It is the blood on the shelves today, ready and waiting, that will help meet the needs of patients tomorrow."
For more information, or to find a Red Cross blood drive, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit online at newenglandblood.org.