Most everyone at some point in their lives will meet someone who has received blood products.
“Blood is needed more than you think,” Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “In fact, in the next two seconds, someone in America will need blood.”
Blood needs are constant, Red Cross officials say. Every day, hospital patients across the U.S. need an average of 40,000 units of blood. When calculated to 365 days a year, that number tops 16 million donations—or nearly 30 million blood products—that are transfused to 5 million patients a year.
Patients need blood for treatments related to cancer and other diseases, for organ transplants, and for emergency care related to accidents or trauma. A person with cancer and leukemia may need from two to six units of red cells to endure chemotherapy, as well as six to eight units of platelets daily for two to four weeks. Surgeries related to heart conditions and organ transplants can also be blood intensive, requiring anywhere from two to 20 units each of red cells, platelets or plasma. And depending on the severity of car accident, a person may need from four to 100 units of red blood cells to survive.
“Not a day goes by that we don’t hear someone’s story about how blood helped save their life,” said Whitman. “And those stories are made possible by blood donors who give without any thought of reward other than to help someone in need.”
Today, baby boomers and the WWII generation make up about half of all blood donors through the Red Cross. But with time, many people who once gave may require blood for their own medical care.
“America simply needs more blood donors from younger generations to commit to maintaining America’s blood supply,” said Whitman. “You can be among them, and help change a life.”
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
- Monday, Aug. 1, from noon until 6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 103 N. Franklin in Valparaiso.
- Thursday, Aug. 4, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in the Foyer, located at 505 Bullseye Lake Road in Valparaiso.
- Friday, Aug. 5, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Porter Hospital Valparaiso Campus in the Patio Room, located at 814 LaPorte Ave. in Valparaiso.
- Saturday, Aug. 6, from noon until 4 p.m. at Harbor SuperStores, located at 6100 U.S. Highway 6 in Portage. Please call (219) 771-7760 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Wednesday, Aug. 10, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at First Christian Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 1507 Glendale Blvd. in Valparaiso. All presenting donors at this drive will receive a coupon for a 6-piece box of chocolate covered fruit from Edible Arrangements.
- Saturday, Aug. 13, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Union Fire & Rescue in the Training Room, located at 267 North 600 West in Valparaiso. All presenting donors at this drive will receive a coupon for a 6-piece box of chocolate covered fruit from Edible Arrangements.
- Saturday, Aug. 13, from 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at Family Video, located at 2502 Calumet Ave. in Valparaiso. Come to donate and be entered into a region-wide drawing to win free gas for a year ($3000 gift card).
- Monday, Aug. 15, from 1:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at Miller’s Senior Living Community in the Upstairs Recreation Room R20, located at 5911 Lute Road in Portage. All presenting donors at this drive will receive a coupon for a 6-piece box of chocolate covered fruit from Edible Arrangements.
How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. 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 donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.
About the American Red Cross
The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region serves northern and central Indiana and northwestern Ohio, and needs to collect about 500 units of blood a day to meet patient need in more than 60 hospitals. In addition to providing blood to our community, the American Red Cross also provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts. 06/11AP0454