Got this urgent appeal today:
NATIONAL BLOOD APPEAL – JULY 2011
The American Red Cross is issuing an appeal for blood donors to roll up a sleeve and give blood right now because there is currently a critical blood shortage across our nation. Many donors are busy or traveling, school is out of session and donations have dropped dramatically.
In May and June, donations were at the lowest level the Red Cross has seen in this timeframe in over a dozen years, while demand for blood products remained steady. Because of that, the Red Cross needs blood donors now more than ever. All types are needed, but especially O negative, which can be used to treat any patient.
Since April, the Red Cross has responded to more than 40 major disasters across more than 30 states. “As a meteorologist, I know that there is a chance of tornado, flood, fire, earthquake or hurricane somewhere in our country almost every day,” said Jim Cantore, Meteorologist and member of the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet. ”Any one of these natural disasters can bring pain and heartbreak to those affected. Similarly, a critical blood shortage like the one we’re experiencing right now could have the same effect on someone in need.”
Someone like Brian Boyle, a 25-year-old whose life changed instantly when a dump truck plowed into his vehicle on his way home from swim practice in 2004. Brian lost 60% of his blood, his heart had moved across his chest and his organs and pelvis were pulverized. If Brian survived, doctors predicted that he might not be able to walk again and certainly would not swim. Against all predictions, Brian now competes in marathons and triathlons.
“When I needed it, the American Red Cross was there with 36 blood transfusions and 13 plasma treatments that saved my life in a situation where time was of the essence,” said Boyle. “Amazing medical care and volunteer blood donors helped make my recovery possible. By giving just a little bit of their time, blood donors helped give me the chance at a lifetime.”
Brian’s story highlights just how important each and every blood donation can be. The Red Cross is reaching out to eligible blood donors, sponsors and community leaders to ask them to recruit people to help meet the needs of patients in communities across the United States.
The Red Cross provides lifesaving blood to nearly 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. Every two seconds, someone in America needs a blood transfusion. Accident victims, as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.
Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to give blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.
Eligible blood donors are asked to please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to find a blood drive and to make an appointment.
I can’t really help with the O negative. Actually, I can’t help at all right now, since I just gave.
But you can. And you should.
And yes, I dig having the moral standing to tell other people that. Giving blood makes you smug, which is enjoyable (for you). It also rectifies the gross humours. All sorts of advantages.
But the big one is that it saves lives.
Related Posts
“But you can. And you should.”
If they want my blood, they need to stop being such wienies about the fact that I lived in England back in 1980-81!
Really.
Brad:
On behalf of the American Red Cross, thank you so much for informing your readers about the nationwide critical need for all blood types.
Thank you also for being a blood donor and a hero to patients in need.
We greatly appreciate your support!
Best,
Jamie Muldrow | Communications Manager
American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region
It was interesting to see that the Red Cross estimates that only 38% of Americans are eligible to donate blood today.
As Kathryn referenced, I wonder about the research supporting banning the majority of people who lived in Europe during a cumulative total of 5 yrs of that 15 year period of concern – or those who visited G.B. for even a few months. I hate to say it, but given the short infection period of CJD, it’s not at all likely that infected persons would in turn be donors who could infect the blood supply. Is the large shrinkage to the donor pool worth the infintesimal risk of disease dispersion?
As an O- blood type, I’ll give my Double Red Cell donation this week in honor of Kathryn.
Good for you, Mark, for doing your bit — and Kathryn’s too.
What does she mean, after all, running off to England and gallivanting for all that time?
You know what worries me more than the UK thing? It’s those questions about whether you’ve had a tattoo or body piercing.
If you disqualify people on the basis of that, pretty soon, when all of us sane, sensible grownups die off, there won’t be anybody left to give blood.
Or so it seemed to me. I spoke to some Red Cross people about that, and they told me that if you say “yes” to those, it just means that further questions need to be asked — it’s not a dealkiller.
So I guess it’s OK. I’m still not going to get a tattoo. Just in case.
If you visited G.B. for a few months in 1981 and again in 1991 (and you distinctly remember eating roast beef and yorkshire pudding, because you went to Yorkshire so why wouldn’t you?) are you ineligible to give blood? I’m hoping so, because I’m O negative and I hate feeling guilty about being too scared to give….
Thanks, Mark–you da man!
and Brad, I had you figured for an eyebrow piercing….
What? Because they’re raised so often? I do that without the benefit of artificial appliances…
And KP — go on down, and tell them the situation. If you shouldn’t give, they won’t let you.
Here’s how it goes: You show up (actually, calling ahead for an appointment is better), and they give you a booklet to read (which explains about the living-in-the-UK thing and a bunch of other stuff). Then they take you into an interview room, and that’s a good time to raise your questions — before they prick your finger for the blood test.
You can do this.
Although who knows? You might not make the weight or something. Here are the eligibility requirements…
Caveat: Those requirements might not be the same as at the blood center on Bull St. When you go there, read the instructions they give you carefully, and pay close attention to what they tell you in the interview room.
I notice that the website says, for double red cells, men must weigh 130 pounds and women must weigh 150. (For regular whole blood donations, you only have to weigh 110.)
That’s not what I’ve been told in the past. I was told that men have to weigh 150, and women have to weigh 175. Why women have to weigh more, I don’t know.
Do they give you a barf bag when you donate? That’d be my biggest concern. I could care less about the needle or blood, but whenever I give more than a test tube of blood they make me sit (or lay down) for about 20 minutes afterwards or risk me ending up on my face.
My bride and I gave today at The Village. We received T-shirts, Cokes, Nutter Butter cookies (Bull Street has better snacks), and a buffet courtesy of Moe’s. Why wouldn’t I give when I get so much in return?
I’m not a friend of the needle, either — but after seeing the impact of available blood and platelets on my year-old niece these last 5 months in her fight with leukemia, I think I’ll overcome my fears. Sadly, her services are tomorrow, so my donations will be in memory of her.
Steven,
So lay down then.
I’m so sorry, Susan. How very sad!
@ Steven–I, too, have the vasophagal(sp) response when I see my own blood. I turn my head and look away and I’m fine. A little lightheadedness–even if it comes with a cold sweat, is a small price to pay to save Susan G’s niece, next time.
Thanks for the reminder, Brad.
I don’t have a problem with seeing my blood. I can watch them stick the needle in, watch the blood pump into the tube and could walk around with a pint bag of blood in my hand. It’s like being a gallon low when I give more than two test tubes.