Red Cross Warns of Low Blood Supplies
Just months after a post-Sept. 11 surge of blood donations, the American Red Cross is warning that supplies are running low.
Most of the Red Cross’ 36 regional blood centers have half their normal supply of blood platelets for this time of year, officials said. Blood platelets, which are used to help stop bleeding in cancer patients, spoil after five days.
Blood and platelet supplies are typically low during the holiday season.
The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks prompted a blood-giving rush so big that some places ran out of storage capacity and blood spoiled.
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