General DNR News

DNR EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN CALL FOR BLOOD IN COMMUNITY

BATON ROUGE---The Department of Natural Resources is encouraging its personnel to "give blood" in an effort to aid local blood service centers and area hospitals. DNR employees participating in the effort will be allowed time to donate blood on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week.

In a joint news release yesterday, United Blood Services and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center announced the urgent need for blood in the community citing that blood donations were at an all-time low and usage at a record high.

DNR administrators rallied for employee support of this request and outlined emergency conditions to allow employees to take up to two hours of time to go to blood centers or hospitals to donate blood. These conditions were provided to DNR staff about mid-day on Wednesday.

"We hope to make an impact on this crisis condition and hope to see the blood supply at an adequate level," reported DNR Undersecretary Robert Harper. He said, "we have a chance at indirectly saving lives and DNR encourages all other state agencies to join in this call for blood donations."

Editors: For more information on this topic, please call DNR Public Information Office at 225-342-8955 or 342-4844.