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WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ --
In the aftermath of a Washington Post story published Sunday, several news organizations are issuing erroneous reports that suggest America has more blood than it needs. Nothing could be further from the truth, according to the American Red Cross. There is a real concern that blood donations could drop off sharply prompted by these news reports and endanger our national preparedness before a crisis.
The fact is that over the last eight weeks the American Red Cross has tripled its supply of red blood cells, an effort considered essential in the wake of the terrorist attacks and the ongoing threats of new attacks. Prior to September 11, the nation's blood inventory was at potentially inadequate levels and is now in its best shape in its history.
However, new donations from 25,000 people a day are needed to maintain an adequate inventory for disaster response and relief.
Here are important facts about the American Red Cross blood supply: