by Christine Kim
Friday, July 16, 2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Blood Bank of Alaska says recent crimes and accidents have reduced the local blood supply, and it is asking for the public's help.
The blood bank relies on donations from the local community to keep up its supply. Spokesperson Jessica Golden says the shelf inventory is one of the lowest she's ever seen, with both O and A blood types at code-red inventory -- the blood bank's lowest stocking level.
The blood bank says it needs 700 donors each week to meet the minimum to supply hospitals, and that a single incident can take hundreds of units of blood.
"Because we are so far removed from the Lower 48, we have to have a blood supply by Alaskans for Alaskans to make sure that our state is safe," Golden said. "So we do rely on those donors walking in the door and giving to other Alaskans."
