By Winnie Bolton
Remember all the Red Cross Blood Drives I would remind you of during all these years? Did you think I have forgotten how important they are? Never!
In fact, there’s something you need to be brought up-to-date on.
It is called a double red cell donation. During a double red cell donation only red blood cells are collected. The remaining blood components along with saline are returned to the donor.
With the double red cell donation, donors often leave the donation site feeling better than after a standard whole blood donation because they leave better hydrated.
Red blood cells are the most frequently used component and are needed by almost every type of patient requiring a transfusion, including accident and trauma victims, premature babies and patients undergoing treatment for leukemia and other life-threatening diseases.
By collecting two red cell products at once from type 0 donors and A and B negative, the Red Cross can provide a continuous blood supply through fewer donations.
The American Red Cross must collect 5,000 units of blood each week to meet the needs of patients in the Northwest.
The average adult has about 10 to 12 pints of blood. Sixty percent of the population is eligible to donate blood: of those only five percent actually do.
Just one pint of blood can help up to three people.
An hour or so of your time can mean a lifetime to someone who needs blood.
Don’t let the prick of a needle defeat your good intentions. You’ll walk away feeling good about yourself for giving an hour of your time and thinking about someone else’s need besides your own. Call 1-800-Red Cross for the nearest blood drive. The Mount Angel Seminary will have its yearly blood drive this fall. I will let you know when.
