>>
Gary: JUST AHEAD ON "NEED
TO KNOW," EVERY TWO SECONDS
SOMEONE IN THIS COUNTRY NEEDS
A LIFESAVING GIFT OF BLOOD.
HOWEVER ONE HALF OF ALL RED
CROSS AGENCIES NATIONWIDE,
INCLUDING OUR AREA, ARE
REPORTING DANGEROUSLY LOW
BLOOD BANK LEVELS.
IN ADDITION, LOOK AT WHY SO
FEW MINORITIES GIVE BLOOD AND
WHY THE RED CROSS SAYS THEY
NEED MORE MINORITY BLOOD
DONORS.
ELLEN ROSEN WILL JOIN US FOR
THIS WEEK'S "BUSINESS SECTION"
WITH A REVIEW OF SEVERAL KEY
LOCAL COMPANIES'
SECOND-QUARTER EARNING RESULTS
AND THE CONTINUING
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE ON WALL
STREET.
IT'S ALL NEXT ON "NEED TO
KNOW."
>> GOD MADE EACH ONE OF US A
UNIQUE ENTITY IN US, AND IT'S
CALLED BLOOD.
>> THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW," THE
ROCHESTER AREA'S ONLY IN-DEPTH
NEWS PROGRAM.
"NEED TO KNOW" IS A PRODUCTION
OF WXXI NEWS AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COVERING ISSUES,
POLITICS, EDUCATION AND
CURRENT EVENTS.
>> "NEED TO KNOW" IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE DAISY MARQUIS
JONES FOUNDATION, BY DORSCHEL
LEXUS AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT
OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
(Music)
>> Gary: THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US.
I'M GARY WALKER.
34,000 UNITS OF BLOOD ARE USED
EACH DAY IN UNITED STATES,
NEARLY ALL OF WHICH IS
PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEER DONORS.
AND NOW THE RED CROSS, WHO IS
THE MAIN COLLECTOR OF THE
NATION'S BLOOD SUPPLY, HAS
ANNOUNCED THAT 18 OF ITS 36
AGENCIES ARE ON EMERGENCY
APPEAL FOR BLOOD VOLUNTEERS.
ANY DONATION CAN HELP SAVE UP
TO THE LIVES OF THREE PEOPLE
AS ONE UNIT OF BLOOD CAN BE
SEPARATED FOR TRANSFUSIONS TO
RED AND WHITE BLOOD CELLS,
PLASMA AND PLATELETS.
HISTORICALLY THE LARGEST GROUP
OF DONORS HAS BEEN OLDER
AMERICANS WHO GREW OUT OF THE
WORLD WAR II ERA WHO SAW BLOOD
DONATION AS A SPECIFIC DUTY.
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALSO KEY.
15% OF ALL BLOOD DONATED IS
GIVEN BY HIGH SCHOOL AND
COLLEGE STUDENTS; BUT WITH
DONOR NUMBERS DWINDLING, RED
CROSS HAS STARTED A NEW
CAMPAIGN TO ATTRACT MINORITY
GROUPS SUCH AS
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND LATINOS,
TRADITIONALLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE
NOT BEEN WIDELY TARGETED BY
THE RED CROSS TO DONATE BUT
THEY ARE GENERALLY MORE LIKELY
TO CARRY THE BLOOD TYPES "O"
AND "B" THAT ARE ALWAYS IN
SHORT SUPPLY.
A RECENT RED CROSS POLL SHOWED
THAT MOST AMERICANS VIEW THE
RED CROSS AS A SERVICE FOR
THEM, AS SOMETHING THEY NEED
TO GIVE BACK TO.
"NEED TO KNOW'S" ALICIA
CLAUSSELL AND MATT CUMMINGS
INVESTIGATE THE IMPACT THAT A
LOW COMMUNITY BLOOD SUPPLY HAS
TO AREA HOSPITALS AND TO ONE
PERSON IN PARTICULAR.
>> CAN YOU IMAGINE A
6-MONTH-OLD CHILD IS IN SO
MUCH PAIN, THAT CAN'T HAVE
NARCOTICS, PAIN THAT MAKES
THEM STIFF AS A BOARD AND
CAN'T MOVE ANY MUSCLES AT ALL,
CONSTANTLY CRYING, JUST FULL
OF PAIN, NO NARCOTICS AT ALL.
ALL THEY COULD DO IS GIVE THEM
I.V. FLUIDS.
THAT WAS ME.
I WAS THAT CHILD LAYING IN A
CRIB WITH AN OXYGEN TENT.
>> Alicia: MADDY CANTY-MAROZZI
DESCRIBES WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE
38 YEARS AGO WHEN SHE WAS A
BABY WITH SICKLE CELL ANEMIA,
AN INHERITED RED BLOOD CELL
DISORDER THAT AFFECTS MORE
THAN 70,000 PEOPLE NATIONWIDE,
MOST OF THEM
AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
>> UP IN THE AIR.
>> Alicia: AS A VOLUNTEER
SUMMER CAMP COORDINATOR, SHE
TAKES HER KIDS ON A FIELD TRIP
TO A LOCAL BOWLING ALLEY.
>> I CAN DO THIS.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
>> Alicia: MADDY TRIES TO LEAD
AN ACTIVE AND FULFILLING LIFE
WITH HER HUSBAND, THREE
CHILDREN AND SERVICE TO HER
COMMUNITY.
PART OF MADDY'S TREATMENT FOR
SICKLE CELL INCLUDES BLOOD
TRANSFUSIONS ON A REGULAR
BASIS, ONCE A MONTH AT LEAST.
THIS, ALONG WITH AN ARRAY OF
COMPLICATIONS, ARE PART OF
WHAT MAKES MADDY'S LIFE FAR
FROM AVERAGE.
>> IT'S A STRUGGLE EVERY DAY.
YOU HAVE YOUR GOOD DAYS; YOU
HAVE YOUR BAD DAYS.
SOMETIMES I HAVE TO WEAR
OXYGEN, UH-HUH.
I HAVE AN OXYGEN MACHINE IN MY
HOUSE, OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR.
SOMETIMES I NEED IT TO TAKE A
SHOWER BECAUSE I GET SHORT OF
BREATH JUST SHOWERING.
AS SOON AS I WAKE UP,
SOMETIMES I'M AWAKENED BY THE
PAIN IN MY BODY, AND IT FEELS
LIKE SOMEONE IS TAKING A
KNIFE, A DULL KNIFE, STABBING
ME IN MY BACK AND IN MY HIPS.
I HAVE TO HAVE THE
TRANSFUSIONS.
I HAVE TO HAVE THEM ON A
TIMELY BASIS, AND I HAVE TO
TAKE MY MEDICATION AND I HAVE
TO TAKE MY OXYGEN.
>> Alicia: MADDY SAYS SHE HAS
TO HAVE THE TRANSFUSIONS.
ROCHESTER'S BLOOD BANKS ARE
CURRENTLY ON APPEAL, MEANING
PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT DONATING.
THE RED CROSS IS LOOKING TO
TAP INTO A NEW DEMOGRAPHIC,
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND LATINO
DONORS, WHICH CURRENTLY MAKE
UP ONLY HALF A PERCENT OF
CURRENT BLOOD DONATION.
A BLOOD SHORTAGE CAN BE LIFE
THREATENING TO SOMEONE LIKE
MADDY.
>> I CAN'T STRESS TO MY
PEOPLE, TO THE HISPANIC
PEOPLE, THE JEWISH PEOPLE, THE
ITALIAN PEOPLE, THE PORTUGUESE
PEOPLE, EVEN TO ORIENTAL
PEOPLE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO
DONATE BLOOD.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT
THERE THAT ARE GOING TO DIE
BECAUSE SOMEONE SAYS NO,
BECAUSE SOMEONE BELIEVES IN
SUPERSTITION, BECAUSE SOMEONE
IS TOO SELFISH TO GIVE A
COUPLE HOURS, TWO UNITS OF
BLOOD FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME.
>> Alicia: HOW CAN THERE BE A
BLOOD SHORTAGE AFTER THE
SEPTEMBER 11th TRAGEDY?
BLOOD SURPRISINGLY HAS A SHORT
SHELF LIFE.
MATT CUMMINGS GIVES US MORE
INFORMATION ON WHY RED CROSS
BLOOD BANKS NATIONWIDE ARE IN
DESPERATE NEED OF BLOOD.
>> Matt: RED BLOOD CELLS MUST
BE USED WITHIN 42 DAYS OF
DONATION; PLATELETS WITHIN
FIVE.
PLASMA CAN BE FROZEN AND
STORED FOR UP TO ONE YEAR, ALL
OF WHICH CREATES A NEED FOR
CONSTANT DONATIONS TO MEET THE
CRITICAL DEMANDS OF PATIENTS.
>> APPROXIMATELY ONE OUT OF
EVERY THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE
PATIENTS WHO COME INTO AN
ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL LIKE
STRONG, A UNIVERSITY TEACHING
HOSPITAL, RECEIVES A
TRANSFUSION.
IT IS VERY MUCH ESSENTIAL TO
MUCH OF WHAT WE DO HERE.
>> Matt: Dr. NEIL BLUMBERG IS
THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE
TRANSFUSION MEDICINE UNIT AND
BLOOD BANK AT STRONG HOSPITAL.
HE SEES THE NEED FOR BLOOD IN
STRONG'S MOST SERIOUS
PATIENTS.
>> THE SICKEST PATIENTS, THE
PATIENTS WITH THE MOST SERIOUS
ILLNESSES, THE PATIENTS WITH
CANCER, WITH SEVERE HEART
DISEASE, WITH LEUKEMIA, WITH
LYMPHOMA, PATIENTS WHO HAVE
BEEN IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
OR OTHERWISE INJURED ARE THE
PATIENTS WHO MOST LIKELY NEED
TRANSFUSIONS.
>> Matt: TO FILL THAT NEED FOR
BLOOD, NEW YORK-PENN REGIONAL
CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED
CROSS REPORTS THEY NEED TO
COLLECT ABOUT 1,400 UNITS OF
BLOOD PER DAY.
THAT'S TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE
SUPPLY TO MORE THAN 130
HOSPITALS IN NEW YORK AND
PENNSYLVANIA.
WITH PEOPLE LIVING LONGER AND
NEW MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES USING
MORE OF THE BLOOD SUPPLY, THE
RED CROSS SAYS THE NEED FOR
DONATIONS IS GREATER THAN
EVER.
BLUMBERG SAYS IF A HOSPITAL
RAN SHORT OF BLOOD, IT COULD
FORCE TO POSTPONE OR
RESCHEDULE ELECTIVE SURGERIES.
>> THINGS LIKE LARGE ELECTIVE
ORTHOPEDIC PROCEDURES, SPINAL
OPERATIONS, OPERATIONS TO
CORRECT DEFORMITIES, CERTAIN
TYPES OF CARDIAC SURGERY ARE
NOT EMERGENCIES.
MOST OF THEM ARE.
SOME TYPES OF CANCER SURGERIES
CAN BE POSTPONED, ALTHOUGH
NEITHER THE PATIENTS NOR THE
SURGEONS ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT,
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, AS THESE
USUALLY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN RECENTLY DIAGNOSED
WITH CANCER.
>> Matt: BLUMBERG SAYS
THANKFULLY HE CAN REMEMBER
ONLY ONE INSTANCE IN HIS 22
YEARS AT STRONG WHERE MEDICAL
CARE HAD TO BE POSTPONED DUE
TO A BLOOD SHORTAGE; BUT IT IS
A CONSTANT DEMAND THAT MOST OF
AMERICA IS IGNORING.
NATIONALLY THE RED CROSS
REPORTS 60% OF AMERICANS
QUALIFY TO DONATE BLOOD BUT
ONLY 5% ACTUALLY DO.
LOCALLY ONLY 4.1% OF ALL
ELIGIBLE DONORS IN THE NEW
YORK-PENN REGION DONATE BLOOD.
OF THAT TOTAL, 87% ARE
CAUCASIAN, WHILE 3% ARE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND
APPROXIMATELY 1% ARE LATINOS.
TRADITIONALLY THE RED CROSS
HAS ONLY MARKETED TO THOSE WHO
HAVE DONATED BEFORE, ASKING
FOR REPEATED DONATIONS.
BUT NOW THEY ARE TARGETING A
NEW CAMPAIGN TO ATTRACT
LATINOS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS,
WHO THEY SAY ARE MOST LIKELY
TO CARRY THE MOST NEEDED BLOOD
TYPES "O" AND "D."
BLUMBERG SAYS THIS ISN'T JUST
A MINORITY ISSUE.
EVERYONE MUST CONTRIBUTE.
>> IN A PINCH, WE CAN USE
GROUP "O" BLOOD FOR EVERYONE,
BUT WE TRY NOT TO DO THAT FOR
A VARIETY OF REASONS, BOTH
SAFETY AND AVAILABILITY.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS
THAT, IF WE HAD AN ADEQUATE
BLOOD SUPPLY, IF WE HAVE
EXACTLY THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD
THAT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE, NONE
OF THESE ISSUES OF ETHNICITY
OR ABO ARE GOING TO PLAY MUCH
OF A ROLE.
I WOULD PREFER TO EMPHASIZE
THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE A
COMMUNITY.
WE'RE A COMMUNITY OF MANY
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOLKS IN
TERMS OF AGE, RACE, ETHNIC
ORIGIN AND RELIGIONS.
IF WE PULL TOGETHER AND
EVERYBODY PULLS TOGETHER AND
DOES THEIR OWN SMALL PART,
WE'LL BE FINE.
(Music)
>> Gary: THANK YOU, MATT AND
ALICIA FOR THAT INFORMATION.
IN STUDIO WE HAVE SOME FOLKS
WHO CAN GIVE US A LOT MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS, AND I
WANT TO START WITH ANDREA
HOLLAND.
SHE IS A COMMUNICATIONS
SPECIALIST WITH THE AMERICAN
RED CROSS.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Gary: WHAT'S TODAY'S SUPPLY
LOOK LIKE?
>> AS OF THIS MORNING, WE
CURRENTLY HAVE A
ONE-AND-THREE-QUARTER-DAY
SUPPLY FOR THE ENTIRE NEW
YORK-PENN REGION, AND THAT
ENCOMPASSES 52 COUNTIES IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK-PENN AND
NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
>> Gary: THE ENTIRE AREA, YOU
ONLY HAVE LESS THAN A TWO-DAY
SUPPLY?
>> YES.
THE RED CROSS HAS A
ONE-AND-THREE-QUARTER DAY
SUPPLY ON OUR SHELVES RIGHT
NOW AT THE MOMENT.
>> Gary: I THINK MOST PEOPLE
WOULD BE SURPRISED WITH THAT.
SHOULD WE BE NERVOUS?
>> IT'S NOT REALLY A CASE TO
BE NERVOUS.
IT'S MORE OF A CASE OF BEING
AWARE AND THAT THE NEED IS
CONSTANT AND THAT PEOPLE DO
NEED TO GIVE BLOOD.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN
CREATE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT ONLY COMES
FROM VOLUNTEER BLOOD DONORS.
SO NERVOUSNESS I DON'T THINK
IS AN ISSUE.
I THINK IT'S MORE OF
CONSTANTLY BEING AWARE OF
SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN DO.
VERY SIMPLE.
>> Gary: THE MAN ON YOUR LEFT
IS Dr. DAVID KAUFMAN.
HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF SURGICAL
I.C.U. AT STRONG MEMORIAL.
I THINK IF ANYBODY PROBABLY
NEEDS -- OR USES BLOOD AND IS
FAMILIAR WITH THE SUPPLIES TO
BE USED IN URGENT CARE AT A
MAJOR HOSPITAL.
ARE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT LESS
THAN A TWO-DAY SUPPLY OF
BLOOD?
>> YES.
THERE'S AN ANXIETY LEVEL THAT
COMES, THE WORRY THAT WE'RE
GOING TO NEED BLOOD AND NOT BE
ABLE TO HAVE IT AVAILABLE.
WE TRY TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT
USED SO THAT WE DON'T OVERUSE
WHAT'S A VALUABLE RESOURCE.
>> Gary: IS THAT SOMETHING YOU
THINK ABOUT DAY-TO-DAY ON YOUR
JOB?
>> EVERY SINGLE PATIENT, EVERY
SINGLE TRANSFUSION.
>> Gary: WOULD YOU BE THE
PERSON WHO WOULD MAKE THE
DECISION IF THE PERSON HAS A
TYPE "A" BLOOD OR "B" BLOOD OR
WHATEVER TYPE THEY HAD,
WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN AFFORD
TO GIVE THAT BLOOD, WHETHER
YOU HAVE TO GO TO A UNIVERSAL
DONOR BLOOD?
>> NO.
THE BLOOD BANK MAKES THE
DECISION WHAT TYPES OF BLOOD
TO SEND US.
WE MAKE THE DECISION WHO NEEDS
THE BLOOD TRANSFUSION AND WHO
DOES NOT, WHO CAN WAIT AND CAN
AFFORD TO.
>> Gary: SO YOU'RE -- VERY
MUCH PART AND PARCEL OF YOUR
DAY IN YOUR LIFE.
CONSTANCE JEFFERSON.
I LOVE THIS, DIVERSITY
EMPLOYMENT ASSOCIATE, AMERICAN
RED CROSS.
WE JUST HEARD SOME PRETTY
INTERESTING IDEAS.
I MEAN, I HEARD 5% OF THE
GENERAL POPULATION ONLY GIVES
BLOOD.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Gary: WHICH IN ONE SENSE IS
GOOD.
YOU GET A 95-PERCENT GROWTH
POSSIBILITY.
BUT ONLY A FRACTION OF THAT
ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND
LATINO.
NOW, HISTORICALLY, THAT HAS
NOT BEEN A GROUP THAT HAS BEEN
MARKETED FOR BLOOD DONATIONS.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO GO ABOUT
IT?
>> WELL, WITH THIS NEW
CAMPAIGN AND THE NATIONAL
INITIATIVES THAT ARE GOING ON
AND DIVERSITY WITHIN RED CROSS
TO RECRUIT MORE PEOPLE OF
COLOR, NOT ONLY IN DONORS BUT
ALSO AS EMPLOYEES, ONE OF THE
THINGS WE'RE REALIZING IS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
EDUCATE, REEDUCATE PEOPLE, AND
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
ELIMINATE A LOT OF
MISCONCEPTIONS THAT ARE OUT
HERE ABOUT DONATING BLOOD AND
ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP RED
CROSS HAS HAD WITH MINORITY
COMMUNITIES.
>> Gary: LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
I KNOW THAT, IN RECENT -- IN
MANY YEARS PASSED, WHEN YOU'VE
BEEN IN BUSINESS AS LONG AS I
HAVE, YOU'VE DONE A COUPLE
SHOWS ON BLOOD SUPPLY.
AND USUALLY THE MYTHS WERE I
COULD GET A DISEASE FROM IT OR
THERE WAS SOME RELIGIOUS
BELIEF THAT YOU SHOULD NOT
GIVE BLOOD OR THAT IT WOULD
AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY.
YOU LOSE WEIGHT OR YOU LOSE
YOUR HAIR.
WE'VE HEARD A MILLION
DIFFERENT MYTHS.
ARE THE MYTHS ABOUT NOT GIVING
BLOOD FOR MINORITY GROUPS IN
THE SAME GENRE OR ARE THEY
DIFFERENT?
>> A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH
CULTURAL BACKGROUND THAT THEY
COME FROM.
SOME RELIGIONS DO NOT ALLOW
PEOPLE TO GIVE BLOOD.
SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE THEY
MAY FROWN ON GIVING BLOOD.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER GROUPS
THAT WILL LOOK AT THEIR
CULTURAL HISTORY WITH THE RED
CROSS AND MIGHT SAY, WELL, YOU
KNOW, THE RED CROSS DOESN'T
ALWAYS DO THINGS POLITICALLY
CORRECT, AND SO I'M NOT GOING
TO DONATE BLOOD.
THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT
THEY'RE NOT IMPACTING RED
CROSS.
THEY'RE IMPACTING SOCIETY WHEN
THEY HAVE THAT ATTITUDE.
>> Gary: I GUESS -- AND,
ANDREA, YOU CAN WEIGH IN HERE,
TOO.
I GUESS THE HARDEST PART TO
SWALLOW, I WOULD IMAGINE, IS
THAT THE RED CROSS USED TO
SEGREGATE BLOOD BY RACE.
IS THAT STILL COMMONLY KNOWN
WITHIN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
AND LATINO AND MINORITY
COMMUNITIES AND STILL
RESENTED?
>> I THINK SOME OF THE OLDER
GENERATION, IN MY
GRANDPARENTS, MY PARENTS'
GENERATION, YES, THERE ARE --
THERE IS THAT UNDERSTANDING
THAT BLOOD WAS SEGREGATED.
BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK
AT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN
SOCIETY AT THAT TIME.
THE UNITED STATES WAS A VERY
SEGREGATED ENVIRONMENT AT THAT
TIME.
I THINK THE RED CROSS HAS
MOVED FORWARD AND HAS REALIZED
THAT THAT DID TAKE PLACE AND
IS NOW WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD
AND SAY, OKAY, LET'S BREAK
EVERYTHING THAT WE DID WRONG,
BUT THIS IS LIKE TWO WRONGS
DON'T MAKE A RIGHT, SO LET'S
MOVE FORWARD AND LET'S LOOK AT
-- LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN
INCREASE AFRICAN-AMERICAN,
HISPANIC AND EVEN ASIAN AND
OTHER MINORITY POPULATIONS
WITHIN THE BLOOD SUPPLY
BECAUSE, AS SAID, IT'S NOT
SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE.
IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING
THAT IS NEEDED FOR SURVIVAL.
>> Gary: LET ME GO TO ANDREA
FOR A MINUTE.
MATT HAD MENTIONED IT IN THE
STORIES WE SAW.
SEPTEMBER 11th, WE SAW THE
NEWS STORIES.
WE SAW PEOPLE LINED UP AROUND
BLOCKS TO GIVE BLOOD.
WE HAD AN ENORMOUS BANK OF
BLOOD AT THAT TIME.
BUT THAT HAS NOT CARRIED OVER
AT ALL.
>> UNFORTUNATELY NOT.
SEPTEMBER 11 DEFINITELY SHOWS
YOU THE WILLINGNESS AND
GENEROSITY OF PEOPLE TO COME
OUT AND HELP THEIR FELLOW MAN,
IN A TIME WHEN PEOPLE WERE
REALLY ENJOYING TOGETHER AND
TRYING TO DO AS MUCH AS THEY
COULD DO.
UNFORTUNATELY THE AWARENESS OF
THE NEED HAS KIND OF TAKEN A
SECOND ROLE HERE TO PEOPLE'S
EVERYDAY LIVES.
GIVING BLOOD IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT, AT LEAST I FEEL, IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT CREATES A
PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT
SOMETHING THAT TAKES A LOT OF
TIME; IT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT'S PAINFUL.
AND ONE THING TO POINT OUT, AS
YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, THE
BLOOD SUPPLY IS AVAILABLE FOR
EVERYONE, AND IT NEEDS TO BE
GIVEN BACK TO BY EVERYONE.
IT'S A COMMUNITY RESOURCE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT,
REGARDLESS OF A TRAGEDY LIKE
SEPTEMBER 11th, PEOPLE ALWAYS
NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE FACT
THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE EVERY
DAY WHO NEED BLOOD
TRANSFUSIONS, AND IT'S NOT
SOMETHING THAT WILL EVER GO
AWAY.
IT'S A FACT OF LIFE.
>> Gary: I AM SURPRISED ABOUT
THE GENERATIONAL NATURE OF
THIS.
AGAIN, MAYBE I'M NOT.
WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF
STUDIES SOCIOLOGICALLY ABOUT
VOLUNTEERISM, PEOPLE WHO ARE
INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY,
CITIZENSHIP, ET CETERA.
AND WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT
THE OLDER POPULATION, THE
POPULATION, TOM BROKAW'S
GREATEST GENERATION, IS USED
TO SPECIFICALLY BECOMING
INVOLVED, USED TO
PARTICIPATING, MORE LIKELY TO
JOIN GROUPS, MORE LIKELY TO
WRITE THEIR CONGRESSMAN, AND
APPARENTLY THEY'RE MORE LIKELY
TO GIVE BLOOD.
YOUNG KIDS, STUDENTS IN HIGH
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE, 15% OF THE
DONATIONS.
THAT'S A REMARKABLE NUMBER.
NOW THERE'S THIS HUGE GAP OF
FOLKS IN THE MIDDLE.
WHY ARE THEY NOT GIVING BLOOD?
IS IT A TIME?
IS IT A CRUNCH IN THEIR LIVES?
>> I THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT
TIME PERIOD.
I THINK SEPTEMBER 11th WAS AN
AWAKENING OF A LOT OF PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY IN THE YOUNGER
GENERATION WHO NEVER
EXPERIENCED ANYTHING THAT
THESE WORLD WAR II CAPACITIES
WILL.
AGAIN A LOT OF OUR DONORS ARE
CAUCASIAN, WHO GREW UP DURING
THE WORLD WAR II GENERATION,
THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU
DID BECAUSE IT WAS YOUR CIVIC
DUTY.
IT BROUGHT YOU A LOT OF PRIDE.
NOWADAYS IT'S JUST NOT
SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE
EDUCATED ABOUT OR AWARE OF.
AND PART OF ONE OF THE
PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE IS THAT
PEOPLE NEED TO BECOME MORE
AWARE.
PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS
AN ORGANIZATION IS EDUCATE
PEOPLE MORE ON THE AWARENESS.
AND AS MENTIONED EARLIER, 15%
OF OUR DONOR POPULATION IS
HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGE.
SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE
EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THIS
NEED.
>> Gary: I WANT TO GET INTO
SOMETHING.
GIVEN THE BACKGROUND, AND
LOOKING AT MATT AND ALICIA'S
WORK EARLIER ON, I WAS PRETTY
MUCH SURPRISED, AND THAT'S THE
ENTIRE GENRE OF DISCUSSION
ABOUT THE IDEA THAT MINORITY
BLOOD MIGHT DO BETTER -- IN
OTHER WORDS THERE'S ANTIGENS
OR THERE'S PROTEINS THAT ARE
UNIQUE TO THAT BLOOD, THAT
MIGHT DO BETTER IF THERE WAS A
SUPPLY OF IT FOR OTHER
MINORITIES TO USE.
FIRST OF ALL, IT RAISES KIND
OF LIKE VERY SENSITIVE ISSUES
BECAUSE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT
WE USED TO SEGREGATE BLOOD IN
THE '40s, BUT THERE'S THIS
KIND OF SENSITIVITY TO THIS
DISCUSSION.
AND I'M WONDERING ABOUT --
MAYBE I CAN ASK THE DOCTOR,
TOO, ABOUT THE TIE-IN TO THIS.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ANTIGENS
AND PROTEINS, WHAT ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT?
IS "O" BLOOD FROM A CAUCASIAN
DIFFERENT THAN "O" BLOOD FROM
AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, A LATINO
OR AN ASIAN?
>> WELL, THERE ARE CERTAIN
BLOOD TYPES, AND WE ALL HAVE
THOSE BLOOD TYPES, AND THERE
ARE BLOOD TYPES THAT ARE MORE
COMMON IN SOME GROUPS THAN IN
OTHERS.
AND AS Dr. BLUMBERG SAID, HE
COULD GIVE EVERYBODY "O"
BLOOD, BUT WE'D RUN OUT OF "O"
BLOOD AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE
ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY.
AND IT'S BETTER IF WE CAN GIVE
PEOPLE THE BLOOD TYPE THAT
THEY HAVE SO THAT THE SUPPLY
IS CONSTANT.
I THINK YOU VERY APPROPRIATELY
POINTED OUT, IF EVERYBODY GAVE
BLOOD, THERE WOULD NOT BE A
PROBLEM.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF 60% OF THE
PEOPLE GAVE BLOOD, THEN WE
WOULD NOT HAVE AN ISSUE.
THE PROBLEM IS PEOPLE AREN'T
GIVING BLOOD.
THE PROBLEM ISN'T THAT THERE'S
SOME TREMENDOUS SHORTAGE OF A
PARTICULAR KIND OF BLOOD.
>> Gary: WE HEARD A PRETTY
IMPASSIONED PLEA FROM THE
PERSON IN ALICIA'S PACKAGE
ABOUT -- PARTICULARLY ABOUT
THE SICKLE CELL MINORITY.
IS THAT A MESSAGE YOU ARE
TAKING, IN YOUR JOB, TO TRY TO
INFLUENCE MORE MINORITIES TO
GIVE BLOOD, THE UNIQUENESS OF
THE SICKLE CELL SITUATION?
>> YES, DEFINITELY.
THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS, AS
I MENTIONED, EDUCATION IS VERY
IMPORTANT, AND WE DO USE
SICKLE CELL ANEMIA AS A MEANS
OF EDUCATING OUR PEOPLE,
MEANING AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WHY
THEY NEED TO GIVE BLOOD.
WE FIND THAT THEY NEED TO
UNDERSTAND ALSO WHAT SICKLE
CELL ANEMIA IS, EVEN THOUGH
THIS DISEASE HAS BEEN AROUND
FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.
YOU'D BE SURPRISED.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT KNOW A WHOLE BUNCH ABOUT
IT.
I MEAN, THERE ARE EVEN PARENTS
WITH CHILDREN THAT HAVE SICKLE
CELL ANEMIA THAT ARE JUST
FINDING OUT ABOUT WEB SITES
AND THINGS.
AND YOU WOULD PROBABLY THINK,
WOW, IF I HAD A CHILD THAT HAD
SICKLE CELL ANEMIA, I WOULD
KNOW EVERYTHING THERE WAS TO
KNOW ABOUT THE DISEASE.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO EDUCATE.
WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE
AWARE OF THE AREAS WHERE
MINORITY BLOOD IS TRULY
NEEDED.
ONE IS IF THERE IS A BONE
MARROW TRANSPLANT.
ONLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS CAN
GIVE BONE MARROW TO
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND ASIANS
TO ASIANS.
AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, AND
HISPANICS TO HISPANICS.
I THINK IT REALLY IS A MEANS
OF EDUCATING PEOPLE SO THAT
THEY KNOW THE IMPORTANCE THAT
THEIR BLOOD AND THEY, AS AN
INDIVIDUAL, PLAY IN THIS WHOLE
PICTURE.
>> Gary: ALSO SURPRISING THAT
SOME OF THE RESEARCH SHOWS
THAT THE GREATER PREPONDERANCE
OF "O" BLOOD TYPES IN
MINORITIES, THAT IS THE
UNIVERSAL BLOOD SOURCE.
I BELIEVE O-NEGATIVE.
O-POSITIVE COVERS A GREAT
PREPONDERANCE OF FOLKS AS
WELL, RIGHT?
>> YES.
ASIANS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND
HISPANICS HAVE A PREPONDERANCE
OF "O" AND "B" BLOOD TYPES.
>> Gary: SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT
TO SEE IN AN UPCOMING MONTHS
FROM THE RED CROSS TO GET MORE
MINORITY DONORS, I SUPPOSE OF
ALL RACES?
>> WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO
START THINKING OUT OF THE BOX
A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT
TURNING OVER -- ONE OF THE
IDEAS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN
EARLIER DISCUSSIONS WAS
GETTING MORE BUSINESSES
INVOLVED.
WE NOW HAVE A NEW PROGRAM
CALLED LEADERSHIP LIFE SHARE
WHERE WE ARE TAKING A
CONCERTED EFFORT IN GETTING
BUSINESSES MORE INVOLVED.
WE ALSO HAVE A MINORITY DONOR
RECRUITMENT PROGRAM WHERE WE
ARE GOING TO GO OUT INTO THE
GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY, THE
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
CHURCHES AND FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS AND BEGIN TO
EDUCATE AND LET THEM KNOW
ABOUT THE DIFFERENT VALUE THAT
THEY HAVE TO OFFER.
>> Gary: WELL, I DO WISH YOU
WELL, AND I THANK CONSTANCE
JEFFERSON, ANDREA HOLLAND AND
Dr. DAVID KAUFMAN FOR JOINING
US.
THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW
YOU CAN DONATE BLOOD TO THE
RED CROSS, LOG ONTO OUR WEB
SITE, wxxi.org/ntk.
WHILE
YOU'RE THERE, YOU CAN
ALSO TAKE PART IN OUR WEEKLY
INTERNET POLL AND OF COURSE
FOR THE LATEST IN POLITICS AND
GOVERNMENT, nycitizens.org.
NOW
IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "THE BUSINESS
SECTION" WITH THE "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
(Music)
JOINING US NOW IN STUDIO IS
ELLEN ROSEN, EDITOR OF THE
"BUSINESS SECTION" OF THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
ELLEN, WELCOME.
MAJOR SECOND-QUARTER EARNINGS
ARE IN, THE BIG THREE.
KIND OF LOOKS PROMISING.
>> ACTUALLY EVERYBODY POSTED
PROFITS THIS QUARTER, WHICH
WAS A BIG SURPRISE.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK A LITTLE
FURTHER, YOU SEE THAT PROFITS
ALL COME KIND OF WITH A PRICE.
THE PRICE HAS BEEN IN PEOPLE
AND LAYOFFS.
>> Gary: LET'S GO TO XEROX
FIRST.
I GUESS THAT'S MOST
SURPRISING.
>> XEROX WAS REALLY THE
BIGGEST SURPRISE BECAUSE WALL
STREET HAD -- WHILE ALL THREE
COMPANIES BEAT WALL STREET'S
EXPECTATIONS, XEROX HAD
ACTUALLY BEEN EXPECTED TO POST
WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IT'S
SIXTH STRAIGHT QUARTERLY LOSS
AND INSTEAD POSTED A $93
MILLION PROFIT.
>> Gary: 14 CENTS A SHARE?
>> UM-HMM.
>> Gary: THAT'S PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE.
>> YES.
>> Gary: BUT AS YOU WERE
SAYING, WHAT'S THE PRICE?
>> MOST OF IT COMES THROUGH --
THE THING IS YOU HAVE TO LOOK
AT WHERE IT COMES FROM, AND
MOST OF IT RIGHT NOW COMES
FROM COST CUTTING.
IN XEROX'S CASE... BECAUSE
WALL STREET WAS EXPECTING IT
TO DO.
SO FAR THE MARKET SEEMS TO BE
PAYING THE COMPANY BACK FOR
DOING WHAT IT SAID, THE
RESTRUCTURING THAT... STARTED.
IT'S CUTTING COSTS, BUT IT
CAME AT A COST OF 2,200 JOBS
WORLDWIDE.
>> Gary: LET'S MOVE ON TO
BAUSCH & LOMB.
AGAIN THEY POSTED A GAIN.
>> YES, THEY DID.
THEY ACTUALLY HAD SOME
DOUBLE-DIGIT SALES INCREASES.
BAUSCH & LOMB, REALLY VERY
STRONG SALES OF THEIR CONTACT
LENS SOLUTIONS, THEIR SPECIAL
RHETORIC LENS AND THEIR PURE
VISION AND EXTENDED WEAR LENS
WERE WAY UP.
THAT'S A BIT INTERESTING
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE
THAT STAY THAT'S PENDING IN
THE PATENT INFRINGEMENT CASE.
SO HOW LONG THEY'LL BE ABLE TO
PRODUCE PURE VISION IS
ANYBODY'S GUESS AT THIS POINT
UNTIL THE DECISION IN THE
COURT ACTION.
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT
BAUSCH & LOMB IS IT REALLY IS
WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING
FOR.
THIS IS C.E.O. RON ZARRELLA'S
FIRST CHANCE REALLY.
THIS IS THE RESTRUCTURING PLAN
EVERYBODY'S BEEN WAITING TO
SEE.
WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO TO
BRING THE COMPANY IN LINE
WITHIN THEIR COSTS LINE TO
MAKE IT MORE COMPETITIVE?
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, HE'S
CALLING FOR A NUMBER OF PLANT
CLOSINGS AND ABOUT 460 JOBS
CUT WORLDWIDE, INCLUDING ABOUT
100 OF THEM IN ROCHESTER.
THEY'RE GOING TO TRANSFER ALL
OF THE CERTAIN KIND OF LENS
MANUFACTURING OUT OF ROCHESTER
TO THEIR WATERFORD, IRELAND
PLANT AND BE CLOSING PLANTS
ALL AROUND.
>> Gary: SO THEY'RE 27 CENTS
IN GAIN, BUT THERE'S STILL A
POSSIBLE PRICE TO PAY;
CERTAINLY IF THEY CAN'T MAKE
THEIR PRODUCT THAT'S MAKING
MONEY FOR THEM.
>> YES.
>> Gary: I GUESS WE SHOULD
MOVE ON TO OUR BIGGEST PLAYER,
THEN.
>> THAT WOULD BE KODAK.
>> Gary: AND?
>> WELL, KODAK ACTUALLY DID --
EVEN THOUGH KODAK HAD SAID
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I BELIEVE
IT WAS, THAT THEY WERE
EXPECTING THAT THEIR EARNINGS
WERE GOING TO BE BIGGER THAN
THEY EXPECTED.
THEY'RE EVEN BIGGER THAN THAT.
SO WHILE THAT IS GOOD NEWS,
KODAK ALSO DID IT ON THE BACK
OF COST CUTTING, AND THAT
LEAVES WALL STREET TO WONDER,
CAN KODAK REALLY DO THAT
CONSISTENTLY OR IS THIS A
ONETIME DEAL?
AND FURTHERING THAT IS THE
FACT KODAK SALES ARE WAY OFF.
THERE'S A NEW DROP IN U.S.
CONSUMER FILM USE AND SALES OF
OTHER THINGS.
PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT GOING ON
VACATIONS SO THEY'RE NOT
TAKING PICTURES.
SO THE DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY
IS STILL HURTING KODAK, WHICH
MAKES PEOPLE WONDER IS THIS
REALLY KIND OF A ONETIME
BENEFIT COST-CUTTING OR CAN
KODAK REALLY BUILD ON THIS AND
PRODUCE A CONSECUTIVE QUARTER?
>> Gary: THAT'S PROBABLY A
HUGE QUESTION.
>> YES.
AND THE MARKET WAS... I DON'T
KNOW HOW IT WILL FINISH...
>> Gary: AGAIN, THE MARKETS,
YESTERDAY WAS A REMARKABLE
DAY.
AFTER DAYS AND DAYS AND DAYS
OF LOSSES, A BIT OF A REBOUND.
>> IT REALLY WAS.
CONSUMERS REALLY SEEM TO REACT
TO THE NEWS OF THE... CASE AND
ALSO MORE SO TO CONGRESS
SAYING -- THE HOUSE AND THE
SENATE AGREEING TO THIS
COMPROMISE ON THE CORPORATE
ACCOUNTABILITY, PERHAPS
THINKING -- IF YOU LOOK ACROSS
THE MARKET, INDIVIDUAL STOCKS
WERE UP AND DOWN ALL OVER THE
PLACE, REALLY BENEFITED
YESTERDAY WERE THE RELATIVELY
SOLID STOCKS THAT HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN SOLID TOOK HITS IN THE
LAST FEW DAYS, LIKE JOHNSON
AND JOHNSON AND SOME OTHER
STOCKS, BANKS.
>> Gary: YOU'VE FOLLOWED
BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME.
WERE YOU SHOCKED YESTERDAY TO
SEE JOHN RIGAS HANDCUFFED?
I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN HEARING
ABOUT CORPORATE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
IF ANYTHING, THERE'S THIS
C.E.O. COMING OUT IN
HANDCUFFS.
>> IT DOES APPEAR AS IF WE'RE
TRYING TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE IN
THIS PARTICULAR CASE, BUT I
THINK WE'VE REALLY JUST HEARD
THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG ABOUT
WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN GOING ON.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF
CASES ABOUT CORPORATE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE...
THEY HAD BEEN USING THEIR
COMPANY... BANK.
I THINK THERE REALLY WAS AN
ATTEMPT TO -- INTERESTING THE
INITIAL CHARGES WERE MAIL
FRAUD, ACTUALLY.
THEY WERE ARRESTED AND THEN
TURNED OVER TO A GRAND JURY.
AND THERE WILL BE MORE ON THIS
TIME -- ACTUALLY ON SORT OF ON
ANOTHER NETWORK.
"DATE LINE" IS DOING A SPECIAL
THAT WILL INCLUDE GLOBAL
CROSSING... WHERE THEY LOOK AT
GARY WINNICK.
I THINK THEY CALL IT "MONEY
AND RUN."
THAT'S AIRING THIS SUNDAY.
>> Gary: I GUESS WE CAN HEAR
MORE ABOUT THAT ON "DATE
LINE."
WHAT'S COMING OUT IN THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE?"
>> THIS SUNDAY WE ARE TAKING A
LOOK AT THE FUEL CELL
TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEING
DEVELOPED RIGHT IN THE CITY.
ROCHESTER'S SORT OF BECOME A
HOTBED CENTRAL, ONE OF FOUR
G.M. CENTERS IN THE WORLD
THAT'S REALLY LOOKING AT THIS
TECHNOLOGY.
AND THE QUESTION IS HOW COULD
BENEFIT OUR ECONOMY?
COULD THEY END UP, IF THEY'RE
SUCCESSFUL WITH THIS
TECHNOLOGY, WHICH HAS BEEN
AROUND FOR A REALLY LONG TIME
AND NOBODY'S ACTUALLY BEEN
ABLE TO TURN IT INTO SOMETHING
YOU CAN PRODUCE ECONOMICALLY
AND DRIVE DOWN THE STREET,
COULD WE END UP WITH AN
ECONOMIC QUOTE-UNQUOTE ENGINE
FOR US HERE?
>> Gary: WE'RE GOING TO FIND
OUT.
>> Gary Walker: NOW, FOR MORE
INFORMATION ON THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEED TO KNOW,"
IT'S ALL THERE FOR YOU TO SEE
ON wxxi.org/ntk.
NOW, THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
(Music)