Low Blood Supply Worsens

Most of your Christmas presents have all been unwrapped, but there`s one gift that you can still give. Last week, the American Red Cross appealed to Arkansans to donate blood, but since then the blood supply has actually gotten worse. For example, a spokesperson says they received orders for 76 units of platelets, on Friday, but they only had one unit. And they only have less than a half a day`s supply of blood. It seems today, some Arkansans heard the cry, because the blood donation center noticed a small pick up. But a spokesperson says that still won`t solve the problem. Normally, Arkansas has to import some of its blood supply to distribute to regional hospitals. But the places we import from haven`t had as much to send here, because of the flu. The center says they`ve lost hundreds of donors because so many of them have also been affected by the virus. "Our current donor base has been affected by the flu. We need new donors, people that`ve never donated blood to donate for the 1st time, bring someone with them," said Angela Norwood, with the Red Cross. Norwood says the center distributes more than 500 units of blood daily to hospitals in the Greater Ozarks-Arkansas region. They have elss than 200 units. To find a donation center near you, you can call the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE LIFE.