American Red Cross blood drive draws donors
 More than 60 students and staff at HFM BOCES rolled up their
sleeves to donate blood at the American Red Cross blood drive
held June 9 on the BOCES campus.
It was the second time this school year that a blood drive was
held at BOCES. The two-part, fall-spring campaign may result in
a $200 American Red Cross scholarship being made available to a
BOCES student.
Getting the scholarship depends on the number of units of blood
collected, compared to the number of students enrolled in BOCES,
explained BOCES nurse Kim Bursese.
According to the Red Cross, in the eight minutes it actually
takes to donate a unit of blood, 180 Americans will need a
transfusion. Donated blood will help accident victims, surgery
patients, cancer patients, bone marrow transplant recipients,
burn victims, and people suffering shock or dehydration or
anyone else needing a blood transfusion.
"We always need more blood,” said Red Cross Supervisor Renie
Ball. “As long as there are hospitals with patients, the need
remains high.”
Donating blood is quick, easy and safe. Anyone at least 17 years
of age and weighing more than 117 pounds is eligible to donate.
After a Red Cross representative leads a potential donor through
a health-history screening, the donor is directed to a bed,
where another Red Cross technician uses a new, sterile needle to
collect a unit of whole blood. The actual donation takes about
eight minutes.
While characterizing the HFM blood drive as a success, Ball
emphasized the constant need to replenish blood supplies
everywhere, and urged each donor as they left to encourage their
friends to give.
“We are looking for more people, especially for certain,
hard-to-find blood types,” said Ball. “And we will take as much
O-positive blood as we can get.”
O-positive blood is sometimes called the “universal donor”
because it is a common type and can be safely given to a person
with any other positive blood type.
New technology allows certain donors to give double the amount
of red blood cells in a single visit. Called “Double Red,” the
automated system is designed to safely separate blood into red
blood cells and plasma as its being donated. The plasma and
other components, along with a unit of saline, are returned to
the donor's blood stream, while twice the amount of red cells is collected than
from a standard whole blood donation.
“The process does take longer, and there are additional
requirements to be eligible,” said Ball. “But the results are
two units of red cells from one donor, which are typically
easier for a body to accept during a transfusion.”
Gloversville senior Richard Murray relaxed on a reclined table
as the “Double Red” collection machine processed his blood. It
was his first time donating double red cells, but not as a whole
blood donor. He also participated in the fall blood drive.
The Red Cross is especially grateful for student donors. Some
statistics show that nearly 25 percent of blood donations come
from high school and college donors.
“That is partly why summer can be such a difficult time for
blood supplies, when schools are not in session,” said Ball. “We
spend a lot of time in schools and on college campuses, and
appreciate the willingness of young people to help. We cannot say thank you enough times to the people that
donate,” said Ball. |
