Red Cross Makes Plea for Blood

Alarmed by a critically low supply of Type O blood and none available for wounded U.S. troops should war break out in the Persian Gulf, the American Red Cross of Los Angeles and Orange counties on Monday issued an urgent appeal for blood donors.

Although supplies of all other types of blood also are very low, “we are able to supply the hospitals” in Orange County, said Joan Mueller, a Red Cross spokeswoman. “But should it be needed . . . for Operation Desert Shield, we would not be able to meet that demand.”

Type O blood is the most common, and consequently the most in demand, said Dr. Steven Kleinman, regional medical director for the Red Cross. Not only is it vital for treating patients here, it will be the blood most requested by the military, he said.

Mueller noted that a traditional decrease in blood donations around the Christmas holidays has been complicated by the military’s demand for blood for Operation Desert Shield. If war breaks out in the gulf, military officials have said, Red Cross divisions around the nation could be asked to provide a minimum of 800 pints, or units, of blood a day.

In Orange County and the Los Angeles area, the Red Cross likes to stock a total of 3,100 pints of blood but now has only 1,117 pints on hand, Mueller said. Normally, the region has 1,470 pints of Type O but currently has only 234 pints.

Mueller said that in Orange County, there is a supply of only 49 units of O-positive blood when the normal supply is about 300 pints. There is no 0-negative blood available.

Only 86 pints of A-positive blood are on hand; the normal supply is 300.

BLOOD CENTER HOURS

Prospective blood donors are asked by officials of the Orange County chapter of the American Red Cross to call (714) 835-5381 for appointments. But walk-in donors are accepted.

Blood centers are located in:

* Anaheim, at 1020 S. Anaheim Blvd. Hours are Monday- Thursday from 12:15 to 7 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

* Huntington Beach, at 16882 Gothard St., Unit A. Monday-Thursday from 12:15 to 7 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

* Santa Ana, at 600 Parkcenter Drive. Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.