Blood Assurance needs willing donors
Rachel Sauls
Issue date: 8/27/09 Section: Editorial
Phone calls and e-mails from Blood Assurance flooed my inbox this summer, each one asking for donations and offering incentives to those who give blood.
The surplus of pleas got me thinking. In a city this size, why does our local blood bank ever get low? Understandably, some people are unable to give due to certain health conditions, medications and recent non-needle peircings or tattoos.
But even with these restrictions, there must be thousands of people in the Chattanooga area eligible to donate, and according to Blood Assurance, only 5 percent of those who are eligible actually donate.
It is disappointing to see our blood bank struggle when so many Chattanoogans and UTC students are eligible to give blood, but unwilling or afraid to participate in such an easy act of service.
I understand that needles and the thought of blood can be intimidating, particularly to new donors. However, the fact that 95 percent of us will need blood before the age of 72 is also intimidating.
On average, it takes a person 30 minutes to complete the entire donation process, and the actual donation can take less than 10 minutes. Afteward, donors are given complimentary snacks and a T-shirt. Donors are also eligible to enter drawings for prizes.
I have to admit that I started giving blood in high school as a way to get out of class during blood drives, but I have never regretted my decision to be a blood donor. There is something uniquely satisfying about knowing just a few minutes of my time can save someone's life.
Hospitals need a consistent supply of blood donations to provide for their patients. Ten percent of emergency room patients need blood and patients who have sickle cell anemia can use as much as four units of blood a week.
One donation, which equals about a pint, can help up to four patients in local hospitals and potentially save a life. Approximately 400 donations are needed daily in the Chattanooga area alone, and approximately 40,000 are needed across the U.S.
The Wesley Center will be having a blood drive Aug. 31 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Students can also visit the main Blood Assurance office located across the street from the McKenzie Arena Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The surplus of pleas got me thinking. In a city this size, why does our local blood bank ever get low? Understandably, some people are unable to give due to certain health conditions, medications and recent non-needle peircings or tattoos.
But even with these restrictions, there must be thousands of people in the Chattanooga area eligible to donate, and according to Blood Assurance, only 5 percent of those who are eligible actually donate.
It is disappointing to see our blood bank struggle when so many Chattanoogans and UTC students are eligible to give blood, but unwilling or afraid to participate in such an easy act of service.
I understand that needles and the thought of blood can be intimidating, particularly to new donors. However, the fact that 95 percent of us will need blood before the age of 72 is also intimidating.
On average, it takes a person 30 minutes to complete the entire donation process, and the actual donation can take less than 10 minutes. Afteward, donors are given complimentary snacks and a T-shirt. Donors are also eligible to enter drawings for prizes.
I have to admit that I started giving blood in high school as a way to get out of class during blood drives, but I have never regretted my decision to be a blood donor. There is something uniquely satisfying about knowing just a few minutes of my time can save someone's life.
Hospitals need a consistent supply of blood donations to provide for their patients. Ten percent of emergency room patients need blood and patients who have sickle cell anemia can use as much as four units of blood a week.
One donation, which equals about a pint, can help up to four patients in local hospitals and potentially save a life. Approximately 400 donations are needed daily in the Chattanooga area alone, and approximately 40,000 are needed across the U.S.
The Wesley Center will be having a blood drive Aug. 31 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Students can also visit the main Blood Assurance office located across the street from the McKenzie Arena Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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