Last update - 00:00 01/01/2007
Blood supply to hospitals halted due to severe shortages
By Relly Sa'ar, Haaretz Correspondent
The Blood Bank at Magen David Adom on Monday stopped delivering blood supply to hospitals, save for urgent and life-saving surgeries, due to a severe shortage in blood reserves. The Blood Bank has a mere 400 O-type blood units, reserves that are not sufficient for a single day.
Head of MDA's blood services Professor Ayelet Shenar informed hospitals that MDA cannot supply blood units for purposes other than saving life. Professor Shenar said that a recent drop in the number of blood donors has been marked in recent weeks, possibly because of the colder weather and related illnesses.
Professor Shenar said "since a blood unit can be stored for only 35 days, reserves cannot accumulate at the Blood Bank, and donations are necessary on an ongoing basis."
"1,000-1,200 daily donations are required in order to meet hospital demands, and recently the number of daily donations has dropped to approximately 700," she added.
Blood-type O is particularly important since it can be given to patients with all other blood types. Therefore a daily donation of 1,000 type O units is necessary to keep reserves at a satisfactory level.
MDA is calling for urgent donations. Information on blood donation is available at the MDA website and at the telephone number 03-5300400.