by Natasha Khairullah
Staff Writer
As many folks make preparations for the upcoming holidays, blood collection organizations increase their efforts to prevent the blood shortages that often accompany the holiday season.
On both a local and national level, the overall level of blood donations drops while blood needs remain the same or can even increase, according to organizations like the Florida Georgia Blood Alliance and the American Red Cross. Adding to the issue is the fact many donation sites — such as schools and business — are closed or operating with a decreased staff while donors are busy or traveling.
“A lot of times, giving blood is forgotten in the holiday rush,” said John Helgren of the Florida Georgia Blood Alliance, adding that the shortages usually last through January. “That’s why we are trying to spread the awareness of the need and are also providing numerous opportunities for those who would like to donate.”
The FGBA collects blood locally via seven mobile donation facilities that travel to different businesses, churches and schools and then distribute the collection to area hospitals like St. Vincent’s and St. Luke’s. They also collect at six donor sites in the Jacksonville area.
The American Red Cross handles blood collection on a national level by drawing blood from donors locally at donation centers and then distributing it to sites around the country from a centralized headquarter location.
Though the organizations are different with regards to how they collect blood, they are all working to accomplish the same thing.
“We all have the same goals,” said Bill Schroeder, donor recruitment representative for the American Red Cross’ Northeast Florida Chapter, “and that is that we collect blood to save lives.”
According to the Red Cross, every two seconds someone in America needs blood, but only 5 percent of the eligible U.S. population donates blood in any given year.
The Red Cross collects nearly half (45 percent) of the nation’s blood supply, providing more than 14 million blood products to some 3,000 hospitals nationwide.
Both organizations are holding several blood drives over the next two months, including FGBA’s “Gift of Life” blood drive at the Avenues Mall and the American Red Cross’ Christmas drive on Dec. 4.
Making a donation is quick and easy and a single blood donation can help up to three people. To be eligible to donate blood, an individual needs to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health.
For more information on these events, visit the American Red Cross online at www.nefloridaredcross.org and FGBA at www.igiveblood.com.