People across the United States are lining up at Red Cross centers to donate blood for the victims of Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
Red Cross nurses are working non-stop in the main hall of the national headquarters building, as blood donors line up to offer their own vital fluid for those who were injured. More than a hundred people crammed into the hall to donate blood. Dozens more formed a line at the entrance, waiting their turn.
Californian Sue Allred interrupted her vacation here in Washington to be a donor. She said, "I give blood whenever I can. I just give blood, and now is a good time. I normally would not have given blood in Washington, DC."
Red Cross National Vice President Jerry Squires says large numbers of people are going to blood donation centers all across the country in response to the attacks in New York and at the Pentagon in Washington. He says the blood is needed. "Blood has been used in New York yesterday, today, and will be needed for the next several days," he said. "In addition to that, we have the ongoing needs for at least 25,000 units of blood for routine surgeries and routine medical care. So all of this is going to be needed."
Recently, Mr. Squires says, the Red Cross was running a bit short on blood for hospitals around the country, but he says the response of donors to Tuesday's terrorist attacks should more than meet the needs of the attack victims, and help maintain the supply for other needy people as well.