Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Blood Badly Needed

Blood, the essence of life.

This is the time of year when the blood supply is most critical. People are on vacation, traveling, participating in outdoor sports and recreations. The summer months are also when many people undergo elective surgery.

All this leads to the need for a good supply of blood during this time of the year.

Janet Welch, with the American Red Cross, informed the Gurdon Rotary Club, at its regular meeting Thursday, May 21, summer is when the most blood is needed.

However, she pointed out, it is also the time when fewer people donate. In fact, less than 5 percent of the people donate at all.

To donate, Welch said, a person must be at least 17-years-old and weigh 110 pounds. They must also be in good general health and not have been where malaria is prevalent for at least a year.

Those who suffered from hepatitis before the age of 11 could possibly donate, should their blood test free of problems.

Welch said O positive is the most common blood type, where AB negative is the rarest form. O is the universal donor, while the AB group is the universal recipient.

When signing up to donate blood, the donor will have to give a brief medical history. The entire process takes about an hour, with the actual donation taking about eight minutes.

Along with making the donation and giving a medical history, donors will get an ear pricked so the blood can be checked for iron. The iron level must be at least 38. This test used to be done with a finger getting pricked.

Welch said two blood samples are sent to St. Louis for testing and typing the Rh factors. Should the doctors find a problem with the blood, the donor will get a letter suggesting they see their personal physician for further testing.

Each donation, though, can save up to three people. This is because the blood is separated down to its component parts, with each part being used separately.

While plasma donors can make monthly donations, those giving whole blood must wait about two months between donations to give their body time to replenish what was removed.

Welch praised the residents of Gurdon saying they give more blood regularly than does nearby Arkadelphia.

Those who donate are in a database in the national registry. This is how the Red Cross now keeps up with when a person last donated blood.

She pointed out the Red Cross does not pay for blood donations, as do some groups and those who seek plasma donations.

The turnout for donations is generally better in high schools and colleges than communities as a whole, she said.

There are three ways a person can donate their blood. First, is simply a general donation where the blood can be used by anyone in need.

Next is the directed donation, where the donor can specify who can use the blood. Should this person not need the blood, the donor can sign a release for general use.

Third is a donation for one's self, if surgery is needed or planned. However, if the surgery doesn't occur, this blood is destroyed, because blood donated for use of the donor is not tested, as it is in other cases.

The blood donated, once reduced to its component level, sees the red blood cells used for anemic patients; platelets are used to control bleeding in patients with leukemia and other illnesses; and the plasma is combined to make medications, such as antihemophilic factors, albumin for the treatment of shock and immune globulin to prevent or lessen the severity of some diseases.

For those who consider donating, but fear the possibility of getting AIDS, those fears can be set aside. It is virtually impossible to get AIDS by donating blood to the Red Cross.

All needles used to collect blood are sterile at the time they are used, and are only used once. Then those needles are destroyed.

A blood drive is being planned for the Gurdon area in June. Be ready and be prepared to again give the gift of life to those in need.