SOUTH POINT – Fairland and South Point students gave the "Gift of Life" Monday.

Thursday, March 15, 2001

SOUTH POINT – Fairland and South Point students gave the "Gift of Life" Monday.

Both schools sponsored an blood drive through the American Red Cross hoping to give something back to the community.

Western West Virginia Red Cross chapter spokesperson Janina Michael said the group is attempting to curtail a blood and blood product shortage that has plagued the nation and area since last fall.

Michael said the daily inventory sheet for Monday showed a "critical shortage" of O positive and O negative blood-types. She explained a critical level indicated less than a two-day blood supply on the shelves.

She said the area’s and the nation’s blood supply has been affected by several factors. She said the organization attributes the lower blood reserves to an increasing elderly population, more people having elective surgery and bad winter weather.

She said the winter storms that battered the Northeast and the brief spots of severe weather in the area have curbed the number of people donating blood. In this area, Michael explained, a number of blood drives were canceled because of weather.

Michael said in order to overcome the shortage, the Red Cross is attempting to spread the message through as many channels they can. She said the organization is using the media and word-of-mouth to get the news out.

The National Honor Society at South Point sponsored the event for a community service project. About 60 students at South Point registered to give blood, hoping to shore up the area’s blood supply.