S.Africa faces blood crisis ahead of holidays
Source: Reuters
JOHANNESBURG, Dec 9 (Reuters) - South Africa is running out of blood and could face a disastrous holiday period, when traffic accidents soar, should stocks levels not increase, the National Blood Service said on Saturday. "We are in a crisis. We are in for a tough December and January," blood service spokeswoman Nicolette Duda told Reuters. Hospital blood stocks have dropped to about one day's supply in KwaZulu-Natal province, a popular tourist region, and are down to three days in the inland region, which includes Johannesburg and capital city Pretoria. Stocks for at least seven days supply are usually held. Non-emergency operations would be put on hold to ensure enough blood was available for trauma cases, Duda said. South Africa has one of highest crime rates in the world, much of that violent crime requiring hospital treatment and its roads are some of the most dangerous with more than 14,000 people dying in accidents in 2005.
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