Most every one at some point in their lives will meet someone who has received blood products.
“Blood is needed more than you think,” said 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:
- Wednesday, Aug. 1, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Arnell Motors, located at 241 Melton Road in Burns Harbor.
- Friday, Aug. 3, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Porter Hospital Valparaiso Campus, located at 814 LaPorte Ave. in Valparaiso.
- Saturday, Aug. 4, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Washington Evangelical Free Church in the gymnasium, located at 3805 LaPorte Ave. in Valparaiso. Come to donate and receive an American Red Cross water bottle.
- Monday, Aug. 6, from noon until 6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 103 N. Franklin in Valparaiso.
- Thursday, Aug. 9, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Hopewell Mennonite Church in the Meeting Hall, located at 805 N. Main St. in Kouts.
- Saturday, Aug. 11, from 8:30 a.m. until1:30 p.m. at Union Fire & Rescue, located at 267 North 600 West in Valparaiso. Come to donate and receive an American Red Cross insulated tote bag.
- Wednesday, Aug. 15, from noon until 6 p.m. at the American Legion in the Hall, located at 5675 Mulberry Ave. in Portage.
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 Indiana and Ohio), 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 60 hospitals. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.