Emergency Blood Drive At St Rose On Saturday

The American Red Cross has scheduled an emergency blood drive in Newtown on Saturday, December 31, 8 am to 12:45 pm, at St Rose of Lima Church.

“The blood collections have been dangerously low due to inclement weather and the holidays,” said Red Cross spokesperson Brenda Wagner. “Last Friday there was freezing rain, and the week before was a big snowstorm and a lot of blood drives were cancelled. Plus there are two three-day holiday weekends this month when we never get blood because people are too busy.”

To meet the crisis, St Rose agreed to hold an emergency drive and the Red Cross has arranged to have staff there that morning.

“We need to appeal to all eligible donors to turn out for the blood drive at St Rose,” Ms Wagner said. “Donors may walk in or schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. Appointments can also be requested online at www.BloodCT.org.

Anyone who is in generally good health, age 17 or older, and weighs 110 pounds or more is probably eligible to give blood. Positive ID is required at the time of a blood donation.

 “We rely on the generosity of the people of Connecticut so that we can collect the 650 units of blood needed each day just to meet the basic needs of patients across the state,” said Paul Sullivan, chief executive officer for the American Red Cross, Connecticut Blood Services Region.

 Donated blood is used to help accident victims, trauma patients, transplant recipients, and those receiving treatment for life-threatening illnesses. Every two seconds, someone in America needs a blood transfusion, and the only source of blood is a healthy volunteer donor. Each unit of donated blood could potentially help up to three patients in need.

More than 50 percent of the general public will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lifetime, the Red Cross said.  A newborn undergoing open heart surgery usually will require one to four units of red blood cells, one or two units of plasma, and one to four units of platelets. A  leukemia patient might require 10 to 18 blood products per week.

“While the American Red Cross is committed to making sure that no patient goes without the blood he or she needs, we rely on the generosity of volunteer blood donors to do so,” explained Mr Sullivan. “Blood is a perishable commodity. It constantly needs to be replenished. We need donors to donate regularly and often to ensure that the blood needs of the patients in our hospitals will be met.”

 The Northeast Division (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont) must collect 2,000 units of blood each day just to meet the basic needs of area patients. Over the course of a year, Connecticut hospitals use more than 219,000 units of blood. A typical day may see an average of 600 units of blood used by patients in the more than 30 hospitals and acute care facilities throughout the state.

 “Many people say that they have never donated blood simply because they have never been asked to. We are hoping that individuals will consider themselves asked and make an appointment to donate blood,” Mr Sullivan said.