The days of "blood famine" in New Orleans are over.
Before July of 1960, the only blood banks in the city were attached to the hospitals. These hospital blood banks could not fill the demand voiced by the city's ill and injured, according to the parish medical society.
In July of that year, a group of doctors formed the New Orleans Blood Bank.
And today, according to chairman of the board Dr. Ralph Hartwell, the blood famine is pretty well licked. Provided Free
The bank, located at 2128 Tulane, provides blood at no cost if persons needing it have followed certain donation schedules.
If a particular group signs up, such as a fraternal organization or employes of a company or industry, the group gives a stated amount of blood. Following this, each member of the group can draw the amount of blood he may need within a stated period of time. If the entire group donates, Dr. Hart-well said it would probably not have to donate again for two years or more.
The second plan, which applies to individuals, requires only that an individual donate one pint of blood. This will return him all the blood he may need over a three-year period. One-Pint Donation
If he is married, the one-pint
donation will cover the blood needs of him and his wife for a year and a half. If he also has dependents under 19, the entire family can receive unlimited quantities of blood for a year. The New Orleans blood bank
also provides blood for its counterparts in hospitals.
To date, the New Orleans bank has supplied a total of 15,642 pints of blood. Carefully Tested
The blood is carefully tested
for impurities, said Dr. Hart-well.
Although office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, the bank maintains a 24-hour a day telephone
answering service.
Other officers are Dr. Monroe Samuels, medical director; Dr. George Hauser of the executive committee and S. B. 3?end-ley, business manager.
