Blood supply runs low in area

Despite a good public response to last week’s emergency appeal for Type O blood donors, Medic Regional Blood Center this morning had less than one day’s supply of Type O positive and Type O negative – the “universal” transfusion type. “Type O positibe and negative canbe given to anyone,” explained Jerry Rysticken, Medic’s executive director. He said the center has more than 40 backorders for Type O from local hospitals. “By the time we fill those, shelves will be empty again.” “We should have at least 200 units of O positive and 60 units of O negative in inventory to make sure we can adequately supply our hospitl blood banks for the treatmemts patients need.” Rysticken added. Medic is the only blood collector and supplier for 26 hospitals in 21 counties, including all the Knoxville area hospitals. The supplies of other blood types also are getting lower, he noted. “Types B positive and A negative and B negative are at below minimum levels. And with the July Fourth holiday period coming up, it’s vital that donors respond now so that