New Yorkers encouraged to give blood in wake of Irene
NEW YORK. August 31. KAZINFORM Michael Bloomberg, mayor of U.S. city of New York, encouraged on Tuesday the city's residents to donate blood as part of the city's hurricane Irene response and recovery efforts.
According to Xinhua, due to traffic shutdown and power outages caused by Irene, New York Blood Center is now in the loss of more than 2,000 units of blood. All types of blood are needed, especially O-Negative,which is normally maintained at a three-to-five day inventory level, has dropped below the two day minimum level. To lend a hand and help publicize the need, Bloomberg donated blood at the Met Life building in Midtown."New Yorkers went above and beyond to help each other during Hurricane Irene this weekend, and now we are asking for donations to potentially save lives," said Bloomberg.
New York Blood Center, which is one of the nation's largest non-profit, community-based blood centers, has been providing safe, adequate and reliable blood supply to almost 200 hospitals, serving 20 million people in greater New York since 1964.
Irene, which was weakened to a tropical storm in New York on Sunday, has reportedly killed at least 42 people in 12 states of the United States.
To read more go to English.news.cn