With the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holiday season now going full tilt, many among us forget about the urgent need for blood that spikes at this busy time of the year. Perhaps the most generous gift you can give is the gift of life.
The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors to give more life to patients now and into the new year by giving blood or platelets.
Donations always decline during the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day when busy holiday schedules cause regular donors to be less available to give and many blood drives may be canceled due to severe winter storms. Last year, nearly 64,000 fewer blood and platelet donations were given through the Red Cross during the seven weeks from Thanksgiving through the first week of January than the average during the rest of the year.
Todd Kulman is External Communications Manager of the Red Cross Great Lkes and Southeastern Michigan Blood Services Regions. He says, “By taking just about an hour of time today, you can help save someone’s life within a few weeks or even days of your donation.” He adds, “We’re asking donors to give now to help ensure blood is available when patients need it most.”
Blood is perishable and can only be replenished by volunteer donors. Red blood cells, the most transfused blood product, must be transfused within 42 days. Platelets, the tiny cells that form clots and help stop bleeding, must be transfused within just five days. More than half of all platelet donations go to cancer patients who may need platelet transfusions to prevent life-threatening bleeding during chemotherapy.
Kulman notes, “Platelet donors don’t have to wait a few weeks to make a difference in a patient’s life,” adding, “Someone could donate platelets on Monday, and by Friday, those same platelets can help someone’s fight to kick cancer.”
Kelly Ellison certainly knows that. Twenty-eight weeks into her third pregnancy, she was raced to the hospital with uncontrollable bleeding and received a doubly devastating diagnosis. Not only did she have aplastic anemia – a rare blood disorder in which the body’s bone marrow does not produce enough new blood cells – doctors also detected kidney cancer. Kelly received 43 units of blood and platelets. Five weeks later, she gave birth prematurely to her son, who also needed blood transfusions to survive.
Ellison says, “Our lives have been forever changed because of lifesaving blood and platelet donations.” She adds, “Every breath I take is a blessing!”
All blood types are needed this winter. Platelet donations are especially encouraged the first week of the new year, which is among the most difficult to collect enough platelets to meet patient needs. Donation appointments can be quickly and easily scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
As a special thank-you for taking the time to donate, those who show up to give between December 21st and January 7th will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Berrien County:
Saint Joseph
12/20/2017: 11 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., American Red Cross, 3838 Niles Road
Sodus
12/26/2017: 11 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 4071 Naomi Road
Saint Joseph
12/29/2017: 11 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., American Red Cross, 3838 Niles Road
Stevensville
1/2/2018: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., St Pauls Lutheran Church Stevensville, 2673 W. John Beers Road
New Buffalo
1/3/2018: 12 p.m. – 4:45 p.m., Converge Community Church, 601 W Buffalo St
Saint Joseph
1/10/2018: 11 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., American Red Cross, 3838 Niles Road
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Cass County
Edwardsburg
12/18/2017: 1 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Edwardsburg American Legion, 25751 US 12
Cassopolis
12/19/2017: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Pleasant View Church of Christ, 60550 Crooked Creek Road
Dowagiac
12/29/2017: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church, 210 North Front Street
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Van Buren County
South Haven
12/29/2017: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., St Basil Catholic Church, 513 Monroe Boulevard
Bangor
1/9/2018: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Simpson United Methodist Church, 507 Joy St
South Haven
1/11/2018: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Bethel Baptist Church, 6701 Blue Star Highway South
Decatur
1/12/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Decatur High School, 110 Cedar
Lawton
1/15/2018: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Evangelical Mennonite Church, 425 Nursery Street
Here’s how you can donate blood or platelets:
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from a computer or mobile device. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 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, you can visit online at redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit them on Twitter at @RedCross.
