THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, January 10, 1996            TAG: 9601100662
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY TAMARA STANLEY, STAFF WRITER
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   59 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** The number to call for details about donating blood to the Red Cross is 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. Part of the number was cut off in a story Wednesday. Correction published Friday, January 12, 1996. ***************************************************************** STORM DISRUPTS SUPPLY OF BLOOD TO RED CROSS \

The American Red Cross sent out a mass appeal for blood donations Tuesday after the Blizzard of '96 shut down key supply centers and prevented the collection of blood in hard-hit areas in the Northeast and the Atlantic coastal area.

With centers in Richmond and Charlotte closed since Sunday, the Hampton Roads center has had to collect blood for the entire mid-Atlantic region.

The Norfolk center collected 15 pints of blood Tuesday, falling far short of its daily goal of 375 pints, and had trouble meeting regional demands.

``The nation has a problem unprecedented,'' said Paul Regal, principal officer of the Mid-Atlantic American Red Cross. ``Never has this number of major populations and centers all been knocked out the same time, the same day.

``Normally, we can all support each other by sending some of our inventory here and there, but now there's just not much to share.''

Jo Heather C. Layton of Mid-Atlantic Regional Blood Services in Norfolk said the center's workers had to pick up potential donors who were afraid to travel on snowy roads. Many did not want to be picked up.

With airports closed, workers from the Norfolk center drove to Georgetown University Hospital in Washington to deliver desperately needed platelets. The platelets had originally been flown from Tulsa, Okla., to Charlotte, N.C., and then driven to Norfolk.

Nationwide, the American Red Cross is collecting half of what it usually collects daily. At least 15 of the American Red Cross' 43 nationwide centers were not able to collect on Monday. The closed centers normally account for between 12,000 and 15,000 pints per day.

Blood platelets, which are used to cause clotting, are expected to be in shortest supply within the next few days. They must be transfused within five days of collection. Those collected last week are expiring.

Although all blood types are needed, type O is vital. The universal blood type, O is most often used during trauma and emergency situations.

The Red Cross urges individuals who are at least 17 years of age or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in good health to donate.

For more information, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. MEMO: Published version of this story omitted part of the phone number.

KEYWORDS: BLOOD SUPPLY WEATHER by CNB