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Give Blood and Give Life! HOPE Blood Drive is Monday, October 13th

By Liz Ferrell, Development & Community Relations Specialist

 


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Have you ever donated blood before? If you’re interested in becoming a blood donor, now is your chance! HOPE Family Health is teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive at our HOPE Westmoreland location on Monday, October 13, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The blood drive will happen in the Pavilion, located behind the main HOPE Westmoreland building at 1124 New Highway 52 East. To make an appointment online just click this link and sign up at your preferred time!

 

Why give blood? First and most importantly, giving blood is giving the gift of life – and that life might be yours or that of someone you love. According to the American Red Cross website, every two seconds in the U.S., someone needs blood or platelets. People of all ages need blood infusions – trauma victims, burn victims, cancer patients, sickle cell anemia patients, cardiac patients, organ transplant recipients and more. And in emergency situations and natural disasters, the need is immediate.

 

Blood Types

  • The blood type most requested by hospitals is Type O, but different types meet different needs. Recipients may receive whole blood, red blood cells, plasma or platelets. And one donation can help save multiple lives.

  • A “power red” donation – O positive or negative, B negative or A negative – helps trauma victims.

  • Anyone needing plasma or platelets – cancer patients, burn and trauma victims –

  • benefits especially from either AB positive or negative.

  • Sickle cell patients need Type O.

  • Patients battling different chronic health conditions need all blood types.

  • The type most often requested by hospitals is Type O. Type O negative red cells can be given to patients of all blood types. Because only 7% of people in the U.S. are Type O negative, it’s always in great demand and often in short supply. About 45% of people in the U.S. have Group O (positive or negative) blood; the proportion is higher among Hispanics (57%) and African Americans (51%).

  • Type AB plasma can be transfused to patients of all blood types. Since only 4% of people in the U.S. have Type AB blood, this plasma is usually in short supply.

  • In other words, no matter your blood type, your blood can help someone.

 

More Facts about Blood Needs

  • Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S. That’s nearly 5,000 units of platelets and 6.500 units of plasma. 

·        Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they can only come from volunteer donors.

  • The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 units.

  • A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.

  • Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S., with about 1,000 babies born annually with the disease. Sickle cell patients can require blood transfusions throughout their lives.

  • According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.9 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2023. Many will need blood, sometimes daily, during chemotherapy treatment. 

  • Each year, an estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. donate around 13.6 million units of whole blood and red blood cells in a year.

  • Donated blood has an expiration date! Red blood cells must be used in 42 days or less; platelets are only usable for 5 days.

 

Eligibility

If you are over 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and feel healthy, you are most likely eligible. A Red Cross staff member will check your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin levels to ensure you are well enough to give.

 

Prior to donating you will also complete an extensive questionnaire to verify you are eligible to give on that day. Possible reasons for being deferred from donating include having donated recently; presenting symptoms of a cold, flu, COVID or some other illness; taking certain medications; traveling outside the United States to certain locations abroad; being pregnant; receiving a recent vaccine, piercing or tattoo; or engaging in certain lifestyle behaviors.

 

Common Concerns

First-time donors might understandably be afraid they will faint at the sight of needles or blood. But most who persevere successfully donate and become regular blood donors. So come on and give it a try, and enjoy a well-deserved gift, cup of juice or Little Debbie oatmeal crème pie. You’ll sleep easier knowing you helped give someone another day of life.

 

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