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Red Cross issues call for blood Severe weather cuts into supply From wire and staff reports Severe winter storms have worsened the nation's usual post-holiday blood shortage, prompting an urgent call for people to donate blood. Type O blood is the most urgently needed, because it is the universal blood type, meaning it can be safely transfused to most people in an emergency. "The severe winter weather has forced the cancellation of blood drives and limited our ability to collect blood," American Red Cross President Elizabeth Dole said. The Red Cross reported having less than one day's supply of Type O blood on hand in 18 of the organization's 38 collection regions. The Red Cross provides about half of the nation's blood supply. America's Blood Centers, which supplies most of the rest, also has reported shortages. In Medford, area American Red Cross spokesman Paul R. Huard said the Pacific Northwest region is on yellow alert, meaning the Red Cross can fill only about 70 percent of its blood orders for hospitals. The Red Cross has a one-day supply of Type O negative blood, he said. It wasn't known Tuesday night whether any Medford-area hospitals have had to postpone elective surgeries because of the blood shortage. The Red Cross has been calling regular donors in the Medford area, asking them to donate blood. People who haven't donated blood in the last eight weeks are encouraged to call and set up an appointment, and people are also encouraged to consider becoming a first-time donor. "We're trying to contact everybody," said Huard, who said the response by people in the area has been excellent. But he also wanted to tell people not to worry -- that if they're seriously hurt, the Red Cross will make sure that blood is available for those who need it. Reacting to the shortage, a Pittsburgh blood bank asked 40 hospitals in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio to postpone elective surgeries through today. At least 1,000 donors are needed each day for the next several days to stabilize the supply, said Mark Lynch, spokesman for the Central Blood Bank. "We're talking about (postponing) hip replacement, for example, and orthopedic cases. These are sick people who need surgery, but it's not life threatening," he said. Nationwide, donations typically fall off during the holidays, when donors become too busy to give blood regularly. Bad weather exacerbates shortages both by hampering blood drives and by causing increased blood demand to treat accident victims. To donate blood, people must be healthy, at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds or more. (Call the Red Cross's blood donor center at 48 Hawthorne St. in Medford at 773-3813. Blood is collected there on Mondays and Tuesdays). Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA