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With blood donations, later is better
By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
© St. Petersburg Times, A week after the deadly terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, so many residents lined up to donate at blood banks that officials are now asking that they call for an appointment before making a contribution. Despite a delay in a donation, officials hope interest stays strong, especially if the country starts fighting a war. This week LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, a non-profit community blood bank with sites in Florida, Alabama and Georgia, has shipped 32 units of platelets, or 9,600 milliliters, to a New York hospital and the New York Blood Bank, said spokeswoman Karen Rhodenizer. Almost four times the number of usual blood donors turned out last week in Hernando and Citrus county LifeSouth sites to help victims in the tragedy, she said. But within days, workers began making appointments to spread out the donations because platelets last only five days, she said. Red blood cells, another component of the blood cell separated from platelets, can be refrigerated and transfused up to 42 days after the donation. Plasma can be frozen for up to a year. "It would be irresponsible for us to collect blood and then have to discard it," she said. She urged donors to call the agency and make appointments for donations or pledges to be called when blood is needed. "We don't know what the United States blood supply is going to look like in the coming months," she said. "We're looking in the long-term, too. If we get everyone to donate now . . . we could end up wasting blood, which certainly goes against our grain." Blood banks desire a steady stream of donations, she said, because future medical needs remain uncertain, both locally and nationally, particularly if America goes to war, she said. But last week saw almost a four-fold increase in donations. In Hernando County, 753 people donated blood, compared to 182 the week before. In Citrus County, 679 people donated blood last week, compared to 178 the week before, she said. Lucy Coburn, operations manager at LifeSouth local branch, Hernando Community Blood Bank, said donated blood first replenishes local supplies before being shipped out. "It's been a great response," she said. Hernando residents should call 596-2002 and Citrus residents should call 527-3061.
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From today's Hernando Times |
