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Blood supply drops to dangerously low levels by Mary Helen Yarborough Public Relations The American Red Cross has begun to ration blood to hospitals because of a blood shortage throughout South Carolina and across the nation.   The recent flooding in the Northeast resulted in a 3,000-unit loss, according to Red Cross officials. South Carolina shipped blood to the region, which further depleted an already low supply of blood in the state.   Because of the dangerously low blood supply, a hospital in South Carolina recently was without any O positive blood for several hours, facing the possibility of canceling surgeries. The local Red Cross chapter was able to import only 10 units of O positive blood from Charlotte, N.C., to allow surgeries to continue, but the situation remains dire.   With less than a one-day supply as opposed to a safe three-day supply of blood, the American Red Cross is rationing blood types O negative, O positive, and B negative. Blood donors of all blood types, especially O negative, O positive and B negative, are urged to donate.   “The reality is that more accidents often occur during holidays, which is an extremely challenging time to provide an adequate inventory of blood for hospital emergency rooms,” said Robert Baston, M.D., chief medical director for the American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region. “Long holiday weekends like this July fourth only worsen the situation. It is imperative that healthy people donate blood and platelets now because the bottom line is that there is no substitute for blood, and modern health care cannot function without an adequate supply of blood.”   To show appreciation to everyone who donates blood or platelets by July 15, the American Red Cross will give them a vintage ball cap and a chance to win two Delta Air Lines International tickets.   To bring the blood supply back to a safe level, schedule an appointment with Health Connection, 792-0219, or go to http://www.givelife.org. The sponsor code is MUSC.   The blood donation facility is located in Room 279 in the Main Hospital (across from 2 West Amphitheater). It is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.     Friday, July 14, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.