Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Blood Donations Are Needed

Published Wednesday, February 12, 1997 in the Gurdon Times

Dr. Sandra B. Nichols, Director

Arkansas Health Department

One of the most precious substances on earth, blood, is in short supply. We all need it, our bodies produce it.

But, unfortunately, there are times when lives depend on the gift of blood from others. Because of surgery, trauma, hemophilia, various cancers and other conditions, a constant supply of donations is required every day.

Many Americans are generous. Approximately eight million Americans donate blood each year.

Still, the contribution falls far short of the need. Nationally, it is estimated that on five percent or one in 20, of the healthy eligible population donate blood on a yearly basis, which means that 100 percent of the blood supply in America comes from five percent of the population.

According to the American Red Cross, only three percent of Arkansans donate blood. "If we could get this up to five or six percent, we could stabilize the blood supply in Arkansas," says Ashley Crosby, American Red Cross communication specialist.

Blood bank sponsors say the short supply results in blood banks constantly fighting an uphill battle to stay ahead of the ever-increasing need for blood. This is especially true of Arkansas, since it is an import state -- the lack of Arkansas donations requires that blood be brought in from other states to meet the needs of Arkansas hospital patients.

Approximately 73,000 units (a unit is about a pint) of blood were collected by the American Red Cross in Arkansas from July 1995, through June 1996. However, 8,000 more units were needed and those had to be imported.

The American Red Cross Blood Services/Arkansas Region provides the total blood supply to 52 hospitals in Arkansas.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is the only hospital in the state that has its own blood bank. Donations to the UAMS Blood Bank are used exclusively for the needs of UAMS patients.

According to Dr. Bruce A. Marshall, director of Transfusion Medicine, "In addition to the blood that comes from blood suppliers and local donors, family members of the patients, who come from all over the U.S.A., also contribute this life-saving gift while they are visiting."

Both the Red Cross and the UAMS Blood Bank provide information to help potential donors understand the facts, such as the following, about blood donations:

Contracting disease should never be a concern for anyone considering donating blood. Everything needed for the donation is sterile, only used once, and then disposed of.

If you think you just can't find the time, consider that it only takes about an hour to donate blood. This includes registration, a health check, and time for refreshments. The time spent actually giving blood is only eight minutes, and it's virtually painless.

Age and weight restrictions are minimal. A blood donor must be at least 17 years of age and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds.

To help maintain the blood supply, it is recomended that everyone eligible donate blood at least once a year. However, healthy people, like Mark Edwards of Little Rock, can donate blood as often as every eight weeks, and he does.

"Going to the Red Cross every two months is now a part of my routine. At first I didn't have the nerve, but I've been donating blood for three years now," Edward says. "It's easy and I feel good about it because I know it helps so many people."

Donated blood undergoes rigorous testing for disease. Each unit of blood collected goes through a series of eleven tests for infectious diseases such as hepatitis, syphilis and the HIV virus.

If donated blood tests positive for a disease, it is destroyed and the donor is confidentially notified. In addition, before transfusion, blood is tested by the hospital to ensure compatibility with the patient's blood.

Although all risks of transfusion-associated viruses and diseases have not been eliminated, tests are now being used which have reduced the risks. And, in some cases, it is possible to eliminate tranfusion risks. How? by the patient donating his or her own blood to be stored until transfusion is necessary. With the approval of the patient's physician, these donations can be made during the weeks prior to anticipated surgery.

Perhaps the idea of donating blood seems impersonal, because it is not known where, or to whom, it is going. When I donate blood, it is enough to know that someone will benefit. The recipient will never be known to the donor, but it is known that he or she is someone's child, someone's grandmother, a close relative, or a friend who is valued by others.

Eventually, even in this great big world, contributions work their way around to us all. One day, the person whose life depends on a transfusion might be someone close to you, or it might be you.

For more information, call the American Red Cross, 501-614-4400, or the UAMS Blood Bank at 501-686-5433.

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