Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 22, 1993 TAG: 9312180027
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
That, Red Cross officials say, is because, one, there are more accidents on the highways, and more victims needing blood for surgery. Two, high schools, colleges and some industries, where much of their blood supplies come from, close down.
More than a quarter of the Red Cross' blood comes from drives at high schools and colleges, says Bob Lutjen, director of donor resources with the Red Cross' Appalachian Regional headquarters in Roanoke.
The region encompasses 43 counties in Southwest Virginia and parts of West Virginia, takes in 67,000 pints a year and serves 48 medical facilities.
The onset of the holidays "gives us a tremendous drop in potential," he says.
In Montgomery County, the fourth largest blood supplier in the region (behind Roanoke, Lynchburg and Martinsville), the need is felt though not as severely, says Debbie Ingram, executive secretary of the county's Red Cross chapter.
Some of their best drives are in December, she says. And "when they [the Red Cross] make an appeal from Roanoke, they respond," she said of the donors.
Still, "We're counting on you now, as much if not more so, than we do at other times of the year," Lutjen said.
The next blood drive is Wednesday at the New River Valley Mall from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. t's by appointment only. Those interested can call Ingram at 382-2361.
by CNB