Winter is a time of an increased need for blood donations in anticipation of the inevitable accidents associated with navigating hazardous roadways, especially during increased holiday traffic.
A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood, and one out of every ten people admitted to a hospital needs blood.
Nationwide, more than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day, especially for patients battling cancer.
Remarkably, almost 30 percent of the blood supply in our Metropolitan-Philadelphia area is contributed from other parts of the United States.
Eighty percent of the blood donations given to American Red Cross is collected at mobile blood drives set up in communities. The remaining 20% is collected at fixed American Red Cross donor centers.
In the Main Line and surrounding areas, there is a scheduled blood drive every week, at synagogues, churches, schools, hospitals, community centers, and places of business.
Literally, there is an opportunity to give blood for every eligible donor.
Blood donation is a simple four-step process: registration with a valid ID; a medical history interview and mini-physical; donating the blood; and recovery-refreshments.
Note that your pre-reading and health history can be done online through RapidPass.
On average, an adult has about 10-12 pints of blood in the body; approximately one pint is given during a donation.
All donated blood is tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis, COVID-19 and its variants, and other infectious diseases before it can be released to hospitals.
Critically, most donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection, meaning that new donations are constantly needed.
Healthy bone marrow makes a steady supply of red cells, plasma, and platelets. The body will replenish the elements donated in a matter of hours for some, and for others in a matter of days.
Also, the blood supply continues to fluctuate for O negative, the universal donor. Type O negative blood is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients with any of the eight blood types.
College students working virtually at home are a prime group to donate, as well as athletes while taking a break from team workouts and games.
All donors can be reassured that their bodies will replace the fluid which they temporarily lose in donating blood within 24 hours.
For active athletes, several precautions are necessary: hydrate for at least 48 hours, eat nutritious and iron-rich foods, do not exercise right after the donation, and avoid strenuous activity for 5 hours after giving blood.
Please realize that, although 38% of the United States population is eligible to give blood, only 5 percent do so in a given year.
Again, the “stretched to the limit” maximum shelf-life of a pint of blood is usually 42 days.
Individuals who are 17 years of age, or older, meeting height and weight requirements and maintaining good health, are eligible to donate blood.
In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, 16 year-olds with parental permission are also eligible. A healthy donor may make a whole blood donation every 56 days.
The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton on May 21, 1881 and was granted their first congressional charter in 1900. In 2021, the Red Cross celebrated 140 years of compassionate service.
As part of its commitment, the American Red Cross has been tasked by the federal government with providing services to members of the American Armed Forces and their families, as well as providing disaster relief in the United States and around the world.
Notably, the American Red Cross developed the first nationwide civilian blood program in the 1940s and still provides more than 40 percent of the blood products in this country.
Today, as throughout its long history, the American Red Cross also depends on generous contributions of time and money from the American public to support their lifesaving services and programs.
When you donate blood through American Red Cross, you help save lives by giving of yourself in just a little over an hour.
You may never meet the person who receives your blood, but you will feel good knowing you have helped to save or change a life invaluably.
Be a Holiday Hero by sharing the precious gift of life.
To confirm the scheduled blood drives in your area and to make a blood donation appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or sign up at www.redcrossblood.org.
Mary Brown, an adjunct professor of Latin at Saint Joseph’s University, is co-chair of Narberth’s Saint Margaret Parish Blood Drive Committee which will be sponsoring a blood drive on Thursday, December 22 in the school cafeteria, 2 pm to 7 pm.
