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CORVALLIS - American Red Cross officials are looking to an Oregon State University blood drive to help bolster a blood supply that is being threatened by host of factors following the Sept. 11 terrorist actions.

The three-day OSU Red Cross blood drive, which is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 13-15, is open to the public and no appointments are needed. The donation site is the OSU Memorial Union Ballroom. For information, contact Noel Mingo at 541-737-3566 or by e-mail at noel.mingo@orst.edu.

Since donors can only donate once in each 56-day period, some people who donated after the Sept. 11 tragedies are unable to donate until later this fall, said Douglas Tracy, Red Cross spokesman. Blood bank officials also say the nation's blood supply is threatened by expiring stocks, new restrictions on collections from European travelers and the potential need for blood in the event of new attacks on the United States or for military campaigns overseas.

Also, some blood bank representatives are expressing concern that some potential donors may be becoming complacent after the disaster, he said. Tracy said the entire donation process takes about 45 minutes. To speed the process, he urges donors to time their arrival at 15 or 20 minutes before or after the hour, since a majority of student donors tend to arrive "on-the-hour," as classes finish for the day.

Donors must be healthy, at least 17 years old, and weigh at least 110 pounds. Persons who are older than 65 and in good health may usually donate with the approval of the blood bank physician.

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