11-01-00

By Stephen Swanson, 541-737-0789
SOURCE: Douglas Tracy, 503-284-0011, Ext. 402

CORVALLIS - Blood supplies in the Northwest have recovered from the crisis level they reached this August, but American Red Cross officials are urging people to not grow complacent.

"Our biggest blood drive of the year is coming up at Oregon State University from Nov. 7 through Nov. 9 and we'd like to see as many people as possible come out to donate," said Douglas Tracy, Red Cross spokesman.

The three-day OSU fall blood drive is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the campus Memorial Union Ballroom. For information, contact Noel Mingo at 541-737-3566.

American Red Cross blood drives are held four times a year on the OSU campus, Tracy said. The drives typically collect up to 1,000 pints of blood and help as many as 4,000 people.

The shortage, which hit the nation's blood banks this summer, was termed one of the worst blood shortages in recorded history. Disaster was only averted locally by a strong turnout of donors throughout the Pacific Northwest who responded to the crisis, Tracy said.

All blood available to patients from the Red Cross comes from volunteers. Although 60 percent of the population is eligible to give blood, only 5 percent donate. Potential donors must be healthy, at least 17 years old and weigh at least 105 pounds.

Red Cross Pacific Northwest Regional Blood Services serves 90 hospitals in more than 30 counties in Oregon and Washington. Giving blood takes less than one hour.

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