One blood donation has the potential to save three lives, and several opportunities to donate blood are coming up in the next few weeks including a drive at Sacred Heart Cultural Center June 23.
“Sacred Heart is one of our community partners. At least once a month, they host a public blood drive,” said Susan Landreth-Everitt, executive director of the American Red Cross of East Central Georgia.
Blood is urgently needed, Landreth-Everitt said.
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According to Landreth-Everitt, the Red Cross has distributed about 75,000 blood products more than expected because of an increased number of trauma cases, transplants and elective surgeries. These have depleted blood supplies.
“In comparison to 2019, the Red Cross has seen red cell demand from trauma centers climb by 10% in 2021 — more than five times the growth of other facilities that provide transfusions,” according to information from the Red Cross.
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More than 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed daily in the U.S. with someone needing blood every two seconds. Someone injured in a car accident can need up to 100 units of blood while cancer patients often need blood after chemotherapy,
“Some hospitals are being forced to slow the pace of elective surgeries until the blood supply stabilizes, delaying crucial patient care. As we return to pre-pandemic activities and resume travel to visit loved ones, we want people to remember the needs of patients this summer and the power so many of us have to help save lives,” said Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, in a news release.
The Red Cross is vital to the nation’s blood supply.
“The Red Cross supplies 40% of the nation’s blood,” said Landreth-Everitt in an article that ran in The Augusta Press on May 25. “We’re the largest blood supplier. Most of it stays here. We first support local hospitals.”
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An app will allow donors to track their blood from the donation point to the location where it’s used.
The Sacred Heart blood drive will be from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Landreth-Everitt said the staff of the center opened it up as a donation spot during the pandemic because it allowed for adequate social distancing, and it was a beautiful and relaxing place for people to give blood.
MORE: Blood Donors Needed as Shortage Continues
Other blood drives will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 27 at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5877, Aiken; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 16, at Liberty Park Community Center Gym, Grovetown; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 21, at North Augusta Community Center; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 27 at Sacred Heart and 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 30 at Doctors Hospital POB 1.
Appointments are suggested at redcrossblood.org, but Landreth-Everitt said walk-ins will be accepted.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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