Area hospitals plead for donations;
critical-care patients could be at risk
By TOM LOUNSBERRY / Courier-Post Staff / CAMDEN

Doctors at the trauma center of Cooper University Hospital are coping with their own emergency - a critical drop in blood supplies.

"The shortage is so severe that surgical procedures are being postponed," Dr. Steven Ross, director of the trauma center, said Friday at a news conference held to appeal for blood donors.

"If there is not a timely increase in the blood supply in the region, trauma patients and those in need of emergency surgery could be impacted," he said.

Ross said blood supplies traditionally drop during the summer vacation period, but he called the current shortage "the worst I can remember."

Representatives of other area hospitals shared that grim view.

"We're all aware of the blood shortage," said Nicole Pensiero, a spokeswoman for Kennedy Health System. "We are now treating surgeries on a case-by-case situation with those requiring emergency surgery getting top priority."

Said Dr. Joseph Reichman, a vice president at Virtua West Jersey Health System, "If blood is available, we will proceed (with an elective surgery). If not, we will postpone it."

The shortage is potentially life-threatening for critical-care patients, said Dr. Scott Murphy of the American Red Cross, which declared a blood emergency in the area on Monday.

"We are in a very, very dangerous situation," Murphy said. He noted a critical need for RH negative blood in both types O and B.

"We have less than one day's supply on hand as of Friday afternoon," said Susan Snyder Sponar of the American Red Cross Penn Jersey Region. "We like to keep at least two days' supply on hand at all times."

She said the center typically provides about 2,500 units a day to the region's 100 hospitals.

At Cooper, Ross said the trauma center uses about 24,000 units of blood products a year, but now has only about 125 units.

"We are asking members of the public who are able to respond and give blood immediately," Ross said.

Cooper employees donated 54 pints at a drive coordinated by The Community Blood Council of NJ in the hospital Friday afternoon, said hospital spokeswoman Sharon Clark. Another drive will be held on Monday.

"We're really concerned for the trauma unit, which serves nine counties," Clark said. "It is the most active trauma unit in the entire Delaware Valley."

At the Red Cross, Sponar noted the impact of the shortage is being felt nationwide.

She said area hospitals were asked to send scarce blood products to Southern California earlier this week to help treat dozens of people injured when an elderly motorist drove through a crowded farmers market in Santa Monica.

"We were able to send them 13 pints," she said.

For more information,
contact Mark Jankowski, CBCNJ Public Relations Manager at 609.883.9750 x45

Kiesha Shields, a registered nurse at Cooper University Hospital, is screened before donating blood on Friday. Cooper employees donated 54 pints. Another drive is set for Monday.

Photo/SCOTT ANDERSON/