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Red alert goes out for blood Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Longtime donor Patrick Densmore of Medford gives blood Monday under the supervision of the Red Cross� Fred Vouma at the agency�s Medford blood center. The national Red Cross is facing only its second blood supply "red alert" in the last 10 years. �Tremendously low� supply prompts plea from Red Cross By Paul Fattig If the American Red Cross were a patient, it would be in critical condition, badly in need of a transfusion. "Our blood supply is tremendously low," said Judith Stevens, customer service representative for the American Red Cross� blood donor services in Medford. "It�s bad every summer but the need is greater than ever now," she added. "There has been more demand. And we haven�t had the amount of donations we need." The problem, say Red Cross officials, is that during a time of more automobile accidents, surgeries and other events that increase the need for blood, donors have not met the growing demand. While the Medford office has generally met its goal of 50 units for each of the two days a week it draws blood, other areas in the region haven�t met their goals, Stevens said. In fact, the American Red Cross Pacific Northwest Regional Blood Services has issued a red alert, meaning that it will fill hospital blood orders at only 50 percent until the blood supply is stabilized. While the goal is to have a three-day blood supply, less than half a day�s blood supply is available, officials warned. Blood donated in the region is distributed to 80 hospitals in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. So far, no blood shortages have been reported at local hospitals. The anemic supply isn�t restricted to the Pacific Northwest. More than half of the 36 Red Cross blood donor regions across the nation are suffering from blood shortages, officials said � prompting only the agency�s second "red alert" in a decade. In addition to extending its hours today, from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at its blood donor services at 48 Hawthorne St. in Medford, the local Red Cross office will hold a special blood drive Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church in Medford. Wednesday�s blood drive will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church, 85 S. Holly St. First-time donors and those who haven�t donated lately should call the Red Cross at 773-3813 to make an appointment. And those who already have appointments are urged to keep them, Stevens said. "This is a time of increased vacations, recreational activities, people being on the road," Stevens said. "Even some of the regular donors sometimes miss their appointments during the summer.�� But not folks like Patrick Densmore, 58, of Medford. He donates every eight weeks. "Piece of cake," Densmore said while he gave blood Monday afternoon. Densmore, a Providence Medford Medical Center employee, has given nearly 14 gallons of blood since he started donating. "I do it because people need it," he said. So does Helen Fagone, 79, a longtime Medford resident who has given more than 24 gallons of blood to help others. "I started way back 25 years ago when there was a need � so I volunteered," she said. "I just kept going. There is still a need." Stevens agreed. "This is very serious," she said, noting that lives depend on the donated blood. "Any shortage affects the whole region." A disaster such as a highway crash with multiple victims requiring transfusions would draw down available blood supplies, she said. For instance, one person could use 50 units. "We won�t feel comfortable until we get the supply back up to where it needs to be," she said. To donate, a person must be at least 17 years old, healthy and weight more than 105 pounds. Donors are given snacks after giving blood. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA