Dear Friends,
It is a very small percentage of the population that is aware of the constant and ongoing need for blood and blood components. Are you aware that only 5% of the eligible population actually donates blood? One of our biggest challenges is not only asking this eligible population to donate blood, but also educating the public about why we are asking.
Here are some “ABO”’s of blood ‘banking’ that even our most regular donors may not be aware:
A) You may have heard us say before that every 1 blood donation can save up to 3 lives. Here’s why -- after your donation, your blood is sent back to our labs where it is separated into three different components – red blood cells, plasma and platelets. Each one of these components can then go to a different patient with a different need. Truly then, every time you or anyone else donates, the ripple effect on patients in our community is a profound one.
B) Appeals and shortages generally occur during certain times of the year – most typically during the summer and holiday season. In general The Blood Center has been able to plan around critical times of the year in order to preclude shortages with special promotions and events to help keep our blood inventory numbers up. However, the reality is that inventory levels can fluctuate from week to week and very often even from day to day -- depending on hospital demand, weather, holidays, vacation months and other unforeseen obstacles.
C) Truth be told, the term blood ‘bank’ is almost a misnomer. Blood never sits, or is never ‘banked,’ on our shelves. Once tested and processed, blood is generally shipped to our hospitals within 48 hours. Even if it were here longer, red blood cells have a shelf life of only 42 days and platelets only 5 days! Donated blood comes in our doors, is tested and processed for the safety of our patients, and goes out our doors again. We are merely a conduit between you, the donor, and a patient in need. So, critical appeal or not, there is always a need for blood.
On that note, none of what we do would be possible without donors. They are the one essential piece that completes this lifesaving puzzle. The little bit of time a donor takes through the course of a year truly means a lifetime to patients in our area who need blood to remain healthy. Because blood cannot be manufactured, patients rely on the generosity of volunteer blood donors everyday, and we here at The Blood Center thank you for helping us do our job.
Sincerely,
Billy Weales
President & CEO
For more information on becoming a volunteer blood donor, call 1-800-86-BLOOD or (504) 524-1322 or email us at donate@thebloodcenter.org.
