Decrease in blood donations concerns Red Cross

As is usually the case this time of year, declining blood donations have resulted in a serious situation for the Southeast Missouri area.

The holidays, coupled with recent winter storms, have interfered with donors' regular donation routines, jeopardizing blood and platelet supplies, and causing real concern at the American Red Cross.

"There are just so many activities going on, schools are out, and we have been affected by the winter weather as well," said David Palmer, territory manager of the Southeast Missouri chapter for the American Red Cross, based in Cape Girardeau. "We had a couple drives that had to be canceled and a couple others that had to be shut down early due to bad weather."

Every year, blood donations fall into a slump between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, which is one reason the Red Cross designated January as National Blood Donor Month. January is also the highest blood usage month for hospitals, according to Palmer.

In an effort to help ensure that enough blood and blood products are available for patients in need, the Red Cross is increasing recruiting efforts and strongly urging eligible donors to give blood or platelets today.

Several drives are scheduled for January throughout the region, including many in Cape Girardeau.

"We put a lot of eggs in our Cape Girardeau basket in January," Palmer said. "That's a lot of units we are counting on."

Type O negative blood continues to be the hardest hit, mainly because it is the blood type most often in demand. O negative can be given to anyone, making it crucial in emergency situations when there is no time to determine a patient's blood type.

With holiday travel and inclement weather, O negative historically plays a large role in preparing for the unexpected. The supply of O negative blood currently stands at less than half a day, according to Christine Bales, chief executive officer for the Red Cross' Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region.

Approximately 55 percent of hospital blood transfusions use O blood, either positive or negative, Palmer said. But only 45 percent of the population has O blood, and only 7 percent of the population has O negative blood.

The supply of B negative blood is equally as critical. This supply currently stands at a little over two days.

"This is a very important time for us to get back to safe levels for both immediate and future needs," Palmer said.

Though the Red Cross tries to educate people about blood donation, people are still afraid of needles and myths regarding the contraction of diseases still abound, according to Palmer.

"Only about 5 percent of the healthy population that could give blood does," Palmer said, "while in our Missouri-Illinois region, on average, a unit of blood is being used every two minutes."

For more information call the Cape Girardeau office at 339-1822, 1 (800) GIVE-LIFE or visit www.givelife.org.

jgosche@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133