WASHINGTON, Wednesday, February 03, 2010 — As medical teams in Haiti continue to evaluate and treat the victims of the devastating earthquake, the American Red Cross is coordinating shipments of blood and blood products to Haiti at the request of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Today, the American Red Cross is coordinating the shipment of 350 units of blood to Haiti – 175 units of blood from the Red Cross and the other 175 units from America’s Blood Centers (ABC), Blood Centers of America (BCA) and the AABB’s National Blood Exchange (NBE).

With today’s shipment, about 1,100 units of blood have been sent to Haiti to help treat earthquake victims -- nearly 750 units from the Red Cross and 350 units by ABC, BCA and the NBE.

PAHO officials are working with the National Blood Transfusion Program at the Ministry of Health in Haiti to distribute blood to local hospitals according to the needs of the earthquake victims.

Future shipments will be coordinated with PAHO by the American Red Cross and will be filled through a cooperative effort with other blood collectors in the United States. The Armed Services Blood Program continues to coordinate the supply of blood products for US military medical facilities participating in the relief efforts, such as the USNS Comfort.

The American Red Cross and other blood suppliers continue to meet the current needs of this tragedy from existing blood supplies. At this time we do not anticipate the need for a general appeal for blood donations to support our efforts to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

To keep blood supplies at an adequate level in the U.S., please consider making an appointment to give blood. Call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS, visit redcrossblood.org, or call your local blood center in the days and weeks ahead.

Your blood donation will become part of the nation’s blood supply and will help ensure that the Red Cross is prepared for any blood needs that arise right here in our community or wherever blood is needed.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.