Fast-breaking News from AABB Weekly Report
	The following has been reproduced from the April 2, 2004 Weekly Report, the weekly news publication of the American Association of Blood Banks.

‘Dear Abby’ Letter Encourages Blood Donation

The March 26 “Dear Abby” column featured a letter from AABB Chief Executive Officer Karen Shoos Lipton urging Americans to give blood. “For a grandmother fighting leukemia, a child battling sickle cell anemia, or a parent awaiting a liver transplant, a safe and available blood supply is more than a wish — it's a necessity,” Lipton wrote. “Our goal is to ensure that blood is available to patients when they need it.

“We encourage our nation's citizens to donate blood. Our call to action comes at a time when blood supplies are perilously low.

“Blood has a shelf life of only 42 days. The supply must be constantly replenished. Donors can safely give blood up to six times a year. To avert shortages, please ask your readers to donate.

“Blood donation is safe and takes only one hour. To be eligible to donate, you must be at least 17 years of age (some states permit younger teens to donate with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. The single unit of blood you donate could help to save the lives of up to three people.”

The letter concluded with phone numbers and Web sites donors can use to contact AABB, the American Red Cross, or America’s Blood Centers. Since the letter’s publication, there has been a significant increase in call volume to AABB’s donation hotline, +1.866.376.6968.

Printed in 1,400 newspapers worldwide and viewed by an estimated 110 million people, “Dear Abby” is one of the most popular and widely syndicated columns in the world. The writer, known as Abigail van Buren said she was pleased to pass along Lipton’s message.

“No one can predict when a life-threatening emergency might strike — and a national blood supply is something many of us take for granted,” wrote van Buren, whose real name is Jeanne Phillips. “This is something that can affect all of us, so, my friends, let's roll up our sleeves and make sure that our hospitals and emergency centers are well stocked.”