The American Red Cross is making an urgent call for blood and platelet donations of all blood types to help combat a blood shortage, after severe winter weather caused January blood bank donations to drop by the thousands. via Winter Weather Creates Blood Shortages in the East | Time
This is true for the blood bank I work for. We are facing shortages in O- and O+ blood types. In my department at work we are charged with getting donors to come into a facility or a mobile collection unit. With illness and resetting of personal routines after the holidays its tough to get people in. This is a time of year you have to do a little more to help save lives.
Blood donations are a great way to help those effected by Hurricane Harvey Donations will be needed in local Texas hospitals due to collections being impacted due to relief efforts.
A great story about the importance of blood donation and especially the blood bank I work for. Without our donors many patients lives would be in the balance.
I work for a blood bank and today I tried a double red cell collection procedure called ALYX. This procedure is a little more involved than a standard donation because of the technique of returning fluid back into the body while taking red cells out. You can do this procedure every four months. Some situations call for more red cells to be in the general blood supply and this is one way of helping. This process only took 26 minutes and saved lives in the process.
It was past time for another donation so today was the day. Giving blood saves 3 lives and so much more. I feel like a super hero when I donate blood here at Blood Assurance.
With today’s donation I have now given a gallon of blood over my lifetime. It takes 8 full draws to reach that milestone. Since working at a blood bank I have donated more than I did before. To me asking others to donate means that I should be willing to donate myself. Just setting a good example for others.
Anyway, I am happy to do this to help save 3 lives and to help make a further contribution to the organization that I love to work for.
The Tony Burgess Blog 