As summer kicks in, and vacation, summer camps and activities begin, and it's easy to get out of the simple routines we have, including being a blood donor.
Unfortunately accidents increase during the summer months and the need for donated blood is even more critical. It is estimated that every two seconds, someone needs blood. One donation can help save the lives of as many as three people.
Paula Dayton, donor recruitment coordinator at the DeGowin Blood Center in University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, talks about the critical need for blood donations:
In the general population, how many people are eligible to donate blood?
We used to say that about 65 percent of the population was eligible to donate. Now with tighten regulations due to Mad Cow disease and some other requirements; current statistics give that number at 37 to 38 percent
What makes people eligible to donate blood?
To be eligible, you have to:
- Be in general good health
- Have been free of cold and flu symptoms for five days
- Weigh at least 110 pounds,
- Be 17 years of age (you can be 16 but you have to have an approved consent form signed by a legal guardian)
We have 48 questions we ask about your health history and travel, as well as conduct a brief physical to determine if you are eligible. If you have questions about your eligibility, call us at 356-2058.
Of the 38 percent of the population that can donate blood, how many donate?
Sadly, only about 5 percent take the time and make the commitment to be a blood donor. We would really like to see that number increase.
With only a 5 percent donation rate in those that can donate, how does that affect the blood supply?
There are times when we struggle to keep up with demand. A shortage usually presents as being low on a particular blood type at a particular time (usually not all blood types at the same time). We might find ourselves low on O Negative blood for instance or B Positive and then we need to put out a plea. This is often dependent on who is using blood and how much they are using. One severely injured patient can use up to 100 units of blood at one time.
Is there a substitute for blood that can be used when the blood supply runs low?
No substitute for human blood at this time. If there is a severe shortage, what usually happens is elective surgeries may be postponed so there is blood available for emergencies. Our inventories are very carefully managed based on historical usage, but we always have to be prepared for the unexpected.
Are certain blood types more in need than others?
We are always in need of O Negative donors because they are universal donors and that's what is used in an emergency when there is no time to type blood. Then depending on patients, severity of their injuries, diseases, surgeries, we can run low on any blood type if a patient or two are using a large amount of blood.
It can deplete or supplies rather quickly. Some donors' blood types make them more suitable to be a platelet or automated donors. Platelets and plasma are what are needed more, so we look to always collect the right component from the right donors at the right time.
How much time does a donation take?
It really takes very little time to donate whole blood—about an hour. If you donate platelets or if you're an automated donor, we ask that you allow two hours.
If someone wanted to schedule an appointment to donate blood, where would they start?
To donate blood or platelets at the DeGowin site at the hospital, call 356-2058 to schedule an appointment.
If you prefer to donate at one of our many blood drives, you can call that number also, or you can sign up online www.uihealthcare.com/bloodcenter.
You can also sign up to be a fan on our Facebook page and we can communicate with you and let you know when we have special needs or are running low of you type blood, or if we need a particular blood type. We can get the word out very quickly that way. We're also getting started on Twitter, so if you want to follow DeGowin, search for DeGowin on Twitter. |
