Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 4, 1994                   TAG: 9401040106
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LACK OF BLOOD WORRIES HOSPITALS

"Always during the holiday season, there are periods when the blood supply dips," said Tolliver, supervisor of transfusion services for Roanoke Memorial Hospital. "But never have I seen it this severe. I think we're at the alarm stage."

The blood supply at the Appalachian Regional Blood Services of the American Red Cross - which is based in Roanoke but serves 40 medical facilities in central and Southwest Virginia and parts of West Virginia - is about 950 pints below optimum level, said Robert Lutjen, director of donor resources. The Red Cross has made an emergency appeal for donors of all blood types.

The shortage is the worst in possibly 15 years, Lutjen said. During normal operations, the Red Cross collects 250-300 pints a day. Lately, collections have ranged from zero in some parts to 200-220 pints in others, he said.

"Basically, hospitals are getting blood only on an emergency basis and not what they receive on our regular stocking plan," he said.

Roanoke Memorial has not been forced into mass cancellations of surgeries, though several elective surgeries have been canceled, Tolliver said.

"We get some of the worst medical situations here - car accidents, gunshot wounds, stabbings," she said. "If we have a major medical emergency, I think then we will see care compromised."

Montgomery Regional Hospital in Blacksburg has not had to cancel any surgeries. But the blood shortage has sent the hospital to neighboring medical facilities to meet its blood needs.

"We had one incident where a doctor ordered four units of blood, and Red Cross could only give two; so we got [the other two] from another hospital," said Suzanne Holladay, manager of laboratory services.

The Red Cross' contract with Montgomery Regional, Radford Community and Giles Memorial hospitals permits the hospitals to borrow from one another when needed, Holladay said.

The blood supply has been affected by a severe flu season and the bad weather, which has kept people away and canceled blood drives in some localities, Tolliver said.

"The national blood shortage is part of the problem," she said. "But historically, this community has not felt the national shortage. This is the first time we've felt a bite. And we're short on every single blood type."

Bad weather expected this week could further affect the supply, Lutjen said. Already, a blood drive in the Grayson County area that was scheduled for today has been canceled.

"If [the bad weather] comes to pass, it could have another serious impact on circumstances, where we have blood going out but not enough coming in," he said.

Because the Red Cross' blood service is based in Roanoke, the organization is relying more on people in the Roanoke area for blood donations, Lutjen said. The Red Cross donor room at its 352 Church Ave. offices in downtown Roanoke will be open today, regardless of weather, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Donors must be 17 or older and in good health.

"A lot of folks don't typically give blood," Lutjen said. "But if we can attract them, this is the time to come and be involved.

"I'm not trying to scare anyone. But we do want to get a response as quickly as possible."