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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 12, 1994                   TAG: 9401120260
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

RESCUE SQUAD SETS 2ND BLOOD DRIVE

Response was so overwhelming to a Salem Rescue Squad blood drive last week that the squad has scheduled a follow-up.

Ray Houff, the squad's assistant chief, announced Tuesday that because all of the more than 160 donors who showed up at the bloodmobile at the Salem Presbyterian Church on Friday could not be accommodated, a second one will be held Jan. 29.

The American Red Cross collected 142 units at the Salem drive, exceeding an 80-unit goal, Houff said. A record 30 first-time donors participated.

The Jan. 29 drive - called "Second Chance" - will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Salem Rescue Squad building, 201 South Broad St.

Donor response has been good across the region served by the Appalachian Regional Blood Services of the American Red Cross, based in Roanoke, said Robert Lutjen, director of donor resources.

The Red Cross still is 763 pints below optimum level, but that is down from the 900-pint shortfall of last week, Lutjen said.

"We are making some progress," he said. "But it will be a slow climb to knock off the other 763 pints - at least four weeks, possibly longer.

"It's not a case where we can turn around and make up that 700-some units in a couple of days."

by CNB