Blood drive turnout lower than usual
Lexington and Buena Vista kicked off the first of six blood drives Jan. 9 in observance of National Blood Donor Month.
American Red Cross staff members collected 19 units of blood Friday, but the organization fell 11 units short of its goal for that drive, said Mike Forrester, director of Volunteer Services at the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the Red Cross.
Organizers hope to collect at least 290 units of blood in Lexington and Buena Vista by the end of the month, said Austin Rehfield, the chapter’s donor recruiter. The Red Cross needs at least 300 units of blood per day to supply Virginia hospitals, Forrester said. A unit of blood is about one pint.
Rehfield said that donations typically drop in January because of the cold and flu season. Harsh weather conditions also make it more difficult for donors to attend blood drives.
“It makes it very challenging to meet the needs of patients,” said Rehfield.
But more people showed up to give blood locally on Jan. 9 than the Red Cross accepted. Five were turned away.
Washington and Lee University junior Caroline Brzozowicz was rejected because of low iron in her blood.
“It was really frustrating, but next time I’ll eat more kale before I go,” she said.
To be eligible, a potential donor must be at least 17 years old, be healthy and weigh more than 110 pounds. Proper identification is also required. Some donors were temporarily ineligible at Friday’s blood drive because they had traveled recently to foreign countries that are prone to malaria, Forrester said.
Donating blood takes about an hour, and donors are provided free cookies and juice afterward.
Blood donations are needed every day to sustain patients undergoing surgery and cancer treatments, according to the Red Cross. Because blood cannot be artificially made, the only way to obtain it is from donors.
Less than 5 percent of the eligible nationwide population provides the blood hospitals need for patients, Rehfield said.
The Roanoke Valley Chapter, the primary blood supplier to Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington, also serves Roanoke, Franklin, Botetourt and Craig Counties.
The next bloodmobile will be held on Friday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rockbridge Area Community Services at 241 Greenhouse Road. The Marlbrook Baptist Church at 6926 N. Lee Highway will also host a blood drive on the same day from noon to 6 p.m.
Although she couldn’t donate this time, Brzozowicz recognizes the importance of giving.
“I like to think I’m saving a life, you know?”
Produced by
Washington and Lee
journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Indira Somani
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Lisa Tracy
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd