Blood reserves run critically low in Tampa area

By AMY HERDY

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 12, 2001

TAMPA -- With supplies running dangerously low, the people who provide blood to those in need are hoping visitors who come for the Super Bowl stay out of trouble.

Donation sites

"(They) will be coming to a place (that) can't take care of its own, let alone help other citizenry," said Brian Scully of Florida Blood Services.

"We try to maintain a three-day blood supply of about 1,500 units," Scully said. "This morning, we had 301 units on the shelves."

Scully said the shortage was caused by a variety of factors, including the influx of winter visitors who often have elective surgery in the Tampa area. Blood service centers in the northeast part of the country typically used for backup are in low supply as well, Scully said, having been closed by snowstorms. And after the holidays, people often have a blase attitude about donating blood, he said.

Not only is the blood supply short, Scully said, there is a complete lack of the two types most commonly used for transfusions: O-positive and O-negative.

O-negative blood is a universal donor, Scully said, with O-negative the most common type that can be used on anyone for a limited amount of time.

Compounding the situation are Tampa emergency rooms that are typically busiest during events such as Gasparilla, he said.

And the Super Bowl is a day later. "We'll have 100,000 people in town," Scully said. "We can have real problems because we don't have the blood to support it. What may happen in the next day or two (after the game) is, elective surgeries may have to be canceled."

The remedy, of course, is for people to donate blood, Scully said.

"Donating blood is one of the best things you can do to save a life," he said. "It's a charitable act that doesn't cost a dime."

There are 11 blood donation sites in the area and 18 bloodmobiles on the road every day. Scully said people who donate before Jan. 22 get a cholesterol screening, a T-shirt and a chance to win Super Bowl tickets.

- Amy Herdy can be reached at (813) 226-3386 or herdy@sptimes.com.

Blood donation centers

• ST. PETERSBURG MAIN: 10100 9th St N, St Petersburg; (727) 568-5433 ext. 2112
• CLEARWATER MAIN: 1680-1602 S. Missouri, Clearwater; 727 582-9500
• PINELLAS PARK: 6088 Park Boulevard, Pinellas Park, (727) 541-2644
• LARGO: Baxter Branch, 11401 Belcher Road, Suite E, Largo; (727) 544-5050 ext. 2583
• TAMPA MAIN: 5301 E Fletcher Ave., Tampa; (813) 903-2600
• BRANDON BRANCH: 727 B W Lumsden Road, Brandon; (813) 661-4528
• PLANT CITY DONOR ROOM: 1902 Jim Redman Parkway, Plant City; (813) 752-7638
• ST. JOSEPH'S BRANCH: 3003 W Dr. M.L. King Blvd., Tampa; (813) 632-5433, ext. 1235
• TAMPA GENERAL BRANCH: Davis Islands, 2 Columbia Drive, Tampa; (813) 632-5433 ext. 1225
• PASCO COUNTY: PASCO MAIN: 7214 State Road 52, Hudson; (727) 819-5433, ext. 3112
• COLONIAL MEDICAL CENTER: 5622 Marine Parkway No. 25, New Port Richey; (727) 849-9858

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