Nation's blood supply is seriously dwindling

Thousands of people who pledged to donate blood after Sept. 11 aren't doing so, and the nation's supply is dwindling to pre-attack levels. In some places there are shortages.

Supplies always drop in the winter, but blood banks had hoped this winter would be different after the huge turnouts of blood donors following the terrorist attacks and pledges of later donations.

Some potential donors say they don't see the need to give again unless there's an emergency. But donors must remember that emergencies happen every day. A single car crash can require 50 units of blood.

It appears the nation may have fallen into a false assumption that there is plenty of blood after the huge turnouts of donors following the World Trade Center tragedy. But that isn't the case. There is always a need for blood, and the Red Cross needs it now.