RED CROSS ASKS FOR BLOOD DONORS
Sep 20th, 2004
IVAN IS HISTORY-RED CROSS ASKS FOR BLOOD DONORSBlood and Platelets Are Needed
Now that hurricane Ivan is gone, your American Red Cross wants you to know that they need your help once again to continue to provide for local hospital patients. The Red Cross is TODAY URGING all potential blood and platelet (apheresis) donors to give blood or platelets as soon as they are able.
"We restarted our daily blood recruitment and collection efforts this past weekend across the Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region: in Alabama, along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the Florida Panhandle," said Mark Beddingfield, COO of the American Red Cross.
Beddingfield noted that, "Because of the storm and resulting cancelled/rescheduled blood drives nearly 2000 units of blood were not collected. Patients in our Region need between 700-800 units of blood each day. The patients' needs don't stop because of hurricanes or storms. "Injuries from these storms may in some cases dramatically increase the need for blood.
Beddingfield stated that Red Cross worked hard and quickly to overstock and pre-position blood among many Gulf Coast hospitals before the storm and to some as far north in Alabama as Dothan to better prepare them for any eventuality.
The American Red Cross has a national inventory system of 34 other blood regions across America that was prepared to provide blood if the ALACGC could not collect it for local patients. Fortunately YOUR Red Cross has the ability to move the blood where and when it is needed.
Beddingfield said, "We are the only national blood supplier in the U.S. As a result, our sister blood services regions are able to support each other and other collections agencies when inclement weather, disasters or other conditions impact their ability to collect and distribute blood."
The blood needs of our region and nation can only be met by voluntary blood donations, and when a disaster strikes, the need could not be greater. So the single most important thing to keep in mind is that blood has to be
available, on the shelves, when and where it's needed in anticipation of patient need whether there is a storm or not. It can take as many as 3 days for one voluntary unit of blood to be tested, processed and released to be placed on the shelf of any blood bank.
Patients and doctors can't afford to wait for blood to be donated, tested and distributed. Those two to three days of processing, may just be too long for a patient in need. Communities can't wait for something to happen to make a decision to donate. Being a regular blood donor is the key to ensuring that blood is available in the time of need.
Blood is a perishable resource and must be replenished through regular donation. We know that at least 60% of the population is eligible to donate, yet only 4% of the eligible population actually gives blood and unfortunately most donors give just one time a year.
You may donate blood every 56 days (8 weeks). Accident victims, transplant and leukemia, sickle cell anemia and cancer patients can't always wait for blood to be donated, tested and processed. For them the need is NOW. If collections are impacted by the storm, their long-term health care needs could be affected.
To be a blood donor, Red Cross asks that you call YOUR American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. If you are sponsoring or hosting an upcoming Red Cross blood drive we ask that you strongly encourage your fellow employees more than ever to roll up their sleeves and give blood-DO IT FOR LIFE.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years of age, weigh 110 pounds and be in good health. To find the nearest drive or to sponsor a drive, call 1-800-GIVE LIFE or visit our Regional web site for the nearest Red Cross blood donor center at: www.alacgc.org or www.redcrossalabama.org.