Be a hero, save a life: Businesses, groups encouraged to hold blood drives

~ Businesses, groups encouraged to hold blood drives.

Got about an hour to spare?

Donating blood or platelets doesn't take much more than that.

The American Red Cross of Southeast Missouri urgently needs blood donations, especially types O negative and B negative. Last week Galen Roberts of the local Red Cross said the organization was down to a two-day supply of B negative blood and a one-day supply of O negative.

The need for O negative is critical, Roberts said, because in an emergency anybody can accept O negative blood, so that type is used more quickly.

What is donated in Southeast Missouri stays in Southeast Missouri, according to Roberts.

"We take care of our local hospitals first," he said.

But if there is an urgent need elsewhere, such as when Hurricane Katrina struck, then the local chapter will send what blood supplies it has available.

Donations have dwindled lately, he said, partly because the of cold and flu season. Roberts said donors are discouraged from donating if they have a cold or sinus infection. Donations dwindle also in the summer when regular donors are away from home on vacation. And some people simply aren't aware of the need.

"The number-one reason why people don't donate is they have never been personally asked to donate," Roberts said.

Some potential donors can't donate because they are taking medication, but that does not apply to all medications.

"People with high blood pressure and diabetes can still donate," Roberts said.

Calling ahead

Potential donors are encouraged to call the Red Cross prior to coming by to see if anything they're taking would keep them from donating. Then, Roberts said, they should make an appointment to donate so the collection center can prepare adequately.

Donors are tested to see if their iron levels will allow them to give blood, Roberts said, and the donated blood goes through 14 different tests to ensure safety. Donated blood is not used for three days to allow enough time to test it. If something is wrong with the blood, it will be discarded, Roberts said.

"We have to rely on people properly answering the questions given to them before they donate," Roberts said. "We make sure we have the safest blood supply we can. If we do find something wrong with some donated blood, the donor will be contacted."

Roberts said he could remember one instance where a donor's life was saved because he wanted to give blood. Testing revealed that his platelet count was low. He went to his doctor and was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

"He caught it in time," Roberts said. "He's here today to talk about it."

Donating blood is simple, Roberts said. A donor must be 17 years old in Missouri; 16 in Illinois with parental permission; and weigh at least 110 pounds. There is no maximum age; as long as a donor is in good health and willing, he may donate blood.

Donor makes 300th donation

Roberts said the Red Cross keeps records of how much and how frequently donors give blood. Holding the record is Maurice Woods of the St. Louis area. In February of 2004, Woods gave his 300th donation; a total of 37 gallons of blood donated over his lifetime.

Donating doesn't take long. Donors sign in and are screened. The actual donation takes about 15 minutes. The Red Cross likes donors to relax for a while in their canteen area afterward and replenish themselves with the healthy snacks and drinks provided. Roberts suggests that donors eat a light healthy meal before donating to prevent possible dizziness.

The Red Cross also welcomes platelet donations needed by cancer patients to keep them from bleeding internally. Platelet donations, called apheresis donations, take a little longer, about 45 minutes, Roberts said. The blood is taken from the patient and spun so that the platelets -- clotting agents in the blood -- are separated from the blood along with the plasma.

"We keep the platelets and return the blood cells, and plasma along with some saline solution goes back into you so you don't lose any fluid," Roberts said.

The Red Cross can take the platelets from whole blood donations, but by taking it through the apheresis method yields more platelets.

The need for blood donations is growing steadily, Roberts said.

"The baby boomers are aging," he said. "There are new surgeries, new technologies, more surgeries needed. We have to find new donors so we can make sure we have a safe and adequate blood supply."

The Red Cross also encourages businesses and institutions to hold blood drives to make it easy for people to donate. Although the collection center on Mount Auburn Road is open regularly for donations, having a mobile unit at a site makes it easier for donors to participate.

"We need to make it convenient for people," Roberts said. "We're looking for new sponsors -- churches, organizations and businesses that can have blood drives."

Giving blood

* Only 7 percent of the population has O negative blood

* Only 2 percent of the population has B negative blood.

* People who have B negative blood can accept that type and O negative, but people with O negative blood can accept only O negative.

* Of the 60 percent of the adult population that meets all the criteria for donating blood, only 5 percent donate.

* Only 30 percent of all first-time donors will donate again.

* Fifteen percent of blood donations comes from high schools.

* Donated blood has a shelf life of 42 days.

* Donors can give blood every 56 days.

* The body has between 10 and 12 pints of blood; donors can spare one.

Source: American Red Cross