The American Red Cross sent out a nationwide plea for blood donors after Tuesday's terrorist attacks on the United States.

The Red Cross' Southern Region Headquarters, which serves Georgia, eastern South Carolina and northeastern Florida, reported record-breaking donations Tuesday, when 2,879 blood units were given.

But that number was topped Wednesday, when the Southern region recorded 3,472 units, said Phil Carter, director of communications for the Southern region, based in Atlanta. The daily average for the region is between 900 and 1,000 donations.

How to help For information about donating blood locally, call: Shepeard Community Blood Center Augusta, 737-4551 Shepeard Community Blood Center Martinez, 854-1880 Shepeard Community Blood Center Aiken, (803) 643-7996 American Red Cross Augusta, 868-8800 American Red Cross Aiken, (803) 642-5180

''It's very heart-warming,'' he said. ''The American people always seem to pull together during times like this.''

Donors continued to show up Thursday, giving 2,731 units and overwhelming Red Cross workers and volunteers.

''It's a constant stream of donors,'' Mr. Carter said.

So many people have shown up to contribute that the Red Cross has asked people to make appointments and come back in the future.

Nationally, more than 700,000 people called to make appointments within the first six hours of the attacks.

''So far, we've been very fortunate,'' said Nina Montanaro, director of public affairs for Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. The influx of blood donors has caused no shortage of the blood supplies needed for daily hospital procedures, such as surgeries and transfusions.

''So far, so good,'' Ms. Montanaro said.

Just as the donors showed up in record numbers, so did the volunteers.

''We've been overwhelmed by the number of volunteers,'' Mr. Carter said.

From vacationing doctors and nurses to children, volunteers showed up in droves throughout the week to help at existing Red Cross sites and makeshift mobile units.

Pacing the rate of donations is imperative, because blood has a shelf life of only 42 days.

The nation - and, in particular, the South - was already suffering from a blood shortage before the attacks.

Despite the urgency with which the blood is needed, Mr. Carter said all donations will continue to go through the standard testing procedures used to ensure a healthy blood supply.

Each blood unit goes through eight to 10 tests, checking for such conditions as HIV.

''Nothing is compromised,'' Mr. Carter said.

Reach Brian Basinger at (404) 589-8424 or mnews@mindspring.com.