Red Cross officials warn of low reserves
With Americans busy with everything from end-of-the-season vacations to back-to-school shopping, a necessity that often goes overlooked and sometimes becomes even more unnoticed is blood. And that ignorance of what is many times the difference between life and death every day for thousands of people is what concerns Cheryl Gergely, public relations director for the local region of the American Red Cross.
“There has always been that group of people who give once or twice a year, but we need people to give blood year round,” Gergely said. “It has a shelf-life and has to be replenished.”
The Greater Alleghenies Region of the American Red Cross reports less than a one-day’s supply of blood type O negative in the 100-county region and only a two-day supply of other blood types.
Gergely said that every two seconds someone in the country needs a blood transfusion, and to stay ready for blood needs, the region needs to donate 1,000 units of blood each weekday.
And while about half the population is eligible to give blood, only about 5 percent donate each year, something that Gergely said needs to change to bring national blood levels to more workable levels.
“This summer, having a low level, unfortunately, has been typical,” Gergely said.
“We need to have at least a five-day supply. And it is especially not a good thing going into the Labor Day holiday,” she said.
Gergely said people become even less concerned with blood donations during holidays, and that coupled with increased traffic accidents, the combination could result in crisis-level blood shortages in more than just O negative.
Red Cross officials said donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh 105 pounds and be in good health to give blood.
Most donors can give blood every 56 days.
Gergely said blood supply levels are typically down during the summer and should rebound once high schools and colleges across the region start holding blood drives once school resumes.
Anyone interested in donating blood can attend one of seven blood drives planned across Fayette and Greene counties over the next two weeks:
– Friday, Franklin Memorial United Methodist Church, Dunbar, 1 to 7 p.m.
– Friday, First Christian Church, Republic, noon to 6 p.m.
– Tuesday, Uniontown Hospital, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
– Sept. 9, Greene County Memorial Hospital, Waynesburg, noon to 6 p.m.
– Sept. 9, All Saints Social Hall, Masontown, 1 to 7 p.m.
– Sept. 11, South Union Township fire hall, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
– Sept. 14, First Christian Church, Brownsville, noon to 6 p.m.