BLOOD SUPPLY UP; MORE STILL NEEDED.Byline: Eric Wahlgren Daily News Staff Writer Thanks in large part to a surge in donations, the area's blood supply has risen slightly after reaching dangerously low levels last week in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of a persistent flu epidemic, local hospitals reported Monday. But hospital officials warn that the blood-shortage crisis is still far from over and urge healthy residents to drop by blood banks and donate. Cold and flu sufferers are ineligible in·el·i·gi·ble adj. 1. Disqualified by law, rule, or provision: ineligible to run for office; ineligible for health benefits. 2. . ``There is still a great need for people to donate blood,'' said Dr. Warren Allen, laboratory medical director at Northridge Hospital Medical Center Northridge Hospital Medical Center is a hospital in the Northridge town of Los Angeles, California, USA. It is currently operated by Catholic Healthcare West. History The hospital was founded in 1955 by Dr. . Allen said blood supplies at the hospital still remain at about 50 percent of normal. Like other area medical centers, Northridge is in particularly dire need of type O-negative blood, which can be used by people of any blood type. Before the American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. - the largest supplier of blood to Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, hospitals - launched an urgent appeal to prospective donors, its supplies last week had shrunk shrunk v. A past tense and a past participle of shrink. shrunk Verb a past tense and past participle of shrink shrunk, shrunken shrink to less than 1 percent of desired inventory. Officials from the organization could not be reached for comment on Monday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The Red Cross blamed the severe shortage on the area's battle with the flu, which renders people hit with the bug ineligible to donate until several weeks after they are well, Allen said. Allen called the blood shortage crisis the worst he has seen in 12 years. Unlike the situation at some area hospitals, Allen said the blood shortage at Northridge did not get bad enough to warrant delaying transfusions or canceling any surgeries. Last week the situation got a little hectic at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center St. Joseph Medical Center may refer to: In the United States:
``For a while there, we were getting nothing from the Red Cross,'' said Lucy Gasich, acting blood donor supervisor at the hospital. Supplies at the hospital Monday had increased to about 50 percent of normal due to a boost in donations - many from first-time donors. But Gasich said area hospitals still need more. ``The shortage is continuing,'' Gasich said. For information on American Red Cross donor center, call (800) GIVE-LIFE. |
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