Community Blood Center says supplies are low
By Angie Hutschreider
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http://newstribune.com/articles/2007/01/21/news_local/344local01.txt
Kevin Edwards knows blood donors are important.
His life was saved by 22 people he's never met who donated blood and other blood products he received following an elective surgery last year.
Kevin Kolb gives blood Thursday during the Missouri State Employee Blood drive at the Undercroft at St. Joseph Cathedral. (Stephen Brooks/News Tribune photo) |
Edwards was recovering in a Jefferson City hospital from that surgery when his IV was reportedly tainted by a chemical cleaning agent. His wife, Millie, was subsequently charged with first-degree assault, but she has not yet been to trial.
The chemical agent brought on complications and hospital staff had to treat the arm where the IV had been in place. Then, Edwards began hemorrhaging and had to decide if he wanted to accept a transfusion that would save his life.
“I was raised a Jehovah's Witness and we don't believe in blood transfusions,” he said. “But I decided my daughter needed me.”
Edwards' story helps illustrate the need for blood donors and how important they can be.
But if the shelves of the Community Blood Center (CBC) are empty, the center cannot supply hospitals throughout Mid-Missouri, including Capital Region Medical Center and St. Mary's Health Center, with the blood needed for surgeries and other procedures.
Carolyn Garner, a recruitment representative with the CBC, said the center needs blood. Its shelves sit with less than a day's supply for Capital Region and St. Mary's.
The hospitals don't get their blood from anywhere but the CBC, so their is a clear need locally.
Since the beginning of December, the blood supply has been low at the CBC, which is something the center experiences annually.
“What tends to happen is, people get busy with the holidays, then the weather gets bad,” Garner said.
“Schools are out, so we can't hold our big donation drives, and people are scheduling their elective surgeries. The bottom line is, there is an increased need and a decreased amount of donations.”
If a person who donates blood one time a year donated twice, there would not be a shortage, the CBC said, noting 60 percent of the population is eligible to give blood but only 5 percent do.
Ideally, the CBC would like to have a five or seven-day supply on hand. Garner said that usually happens after a big school or state blood drive where hundreds of units are donated.
With less than a day's supply of blood on the shelves, Garner said there could be the possibility of rescheduling elective surgeries.
“That would be a step that would have to be taken if CBC couldn't keep blood on the shelves,” Garner said. “So far, we have been able to keep some blood on the shelves.”
St. Mary's and Capital Region have both reported the CBC has been able to fill all requests for blood. The hospitals have not had to reschedule or postpone any surgeries due to the blood shortages.
Right now, the biggest drive is for O-Negative donors. O-Negative is the universal blood type that can be given to anyone. But all donors, regardless of blood type, are needed.
“We need donors today, tomorrow, next week and next month,” Garner said “We don't like going from one crisis to another. Continued donations are the key.”
To be eligible to donate blood with the CBC, the donor must be at least 16 years old. At 16, the donor must have parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds, provide photo identification and be in good health.
“This time of year, especially, being in good health means not having a cold or the flu or being on an antibiotic,” Garner said.
Garner said that the actual process of donating blood only takes five to 10 minutes. However, donors should allow 45 minutes to fill out paperwork and then eat a snack before leaving the donation site. A person can donate blood every eight weeks.
A donated pint of blood undergoes testing for 14 viruses and can be on the shelves of the distribution center within 48 hours, Garner said.
From there, it can help people like Edwards, who says he's ready to help the CBC in any way.
“When I am healthy enough, I definitely plan on donating blood,” he said. “I have volunteered at the refreshment table at blood drives in Sedalia, and as time allows, I plan to do it more in the future, too.”
Edwards often thinks of the hour or less it took those 22 people to save his life. “I am here because of 22 people I don't even know - not even their names or their faces.
“But, I would like to give them hug,” he said.
Edwards sees being a recipient as a second chance.
He just turned 40, is planning on going back to school and will be a grandfather this summer.
“(Being a blood recipient) was a gift - my life is a gift,” he said. “(Donors) are the reason I am here now and the reason I will be here, and everything that happens for the rest of my life is a gift from them.”
Randy Pittman, front, and Tim Smith give blood Thursday during the Missouri State Employee Blood drive at the Undercroft at St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City. (Stephen Brooks/News Tribune photo) |