posted on September 11, 2001 09:08:15 AM
If you CAN give blood now is the time to do it. It doesn't matter where you live. Thousands of units will be needed and are currently being shipped to NYC.
posted on September 11, 2001 10:46:45 AM
I hope they will take my blood this time, last time I tried was slightly anemic... but am calling local redcross after posting this and see if I can go this afternoon. I feel so powerless to do anything.
Whoever reads this post, please take a moment to close your eyes and pause for a short prayer -
posted on September 11, 2001 11:12:35 AM
If you can't give blood (or even if you can) you can help the Red Cross process donors to get through the system, maybe serve the drinks and snacks afterwards.
Of course money is always welcome and put to good use.
posted on September 11, 2001 02:52:22 PM
The Red Cross is handling the blood donation aspect rather awkwardly. After attempting for a while today I made it through to our regional office and asked whether Blood Services would be available locally. I was told that the usual donation schedule was in place and their workers were dedicated to those sites and the closest time that blood dontations would be available is 4 days away. I was also told they are sticking to their original schedule of 6 hours, did I want to make an appointment?
I then called my wife at work at the local hospital to see if she would check with her mother who works in the lab to see if they were working on anything to get blood into the system. She checked and the hospital attempted to contact the Red Cross to make arrangements to handle the blood drawing and get it to them. They were told they would have to schedule an appointment with Blood Services and the soonest available time would be 9 days from now.
Just a note that we are in Pennsylvania, nicely located between both disaster sites. All I see on the television is we need blood! but, unless you're local to St. Vincent's Hospital in NYC they don't seem to want it.
