Donated blood is crucial for saving lives. According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood and/or platelets every two seconds. A single victim of a car crash may need as many as 100 units of blood. And many people, such as patients with sickle cell anemia, require blood transfusions throughout their lives.

“Just one whole blood donation, reduced to blood components, can save multiple lives,” said Laura Chumney, BS, MLS(ASCP), assistant manager of the Aultman blood bank. “Patients receiving blood products can include those experiencing serious injuries, surgeries, childbirth, anemia, blood disorders, iron deficiency, chemotherapy, liver failure, severe infections, serious burns and more.”

Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they must come from volunteer donors. Millions of blood donors are needed each year to meet the demand.

According to Chumney, the American Red Cross in Cleveland provides most of the blood products used at Aultman. Here's what to expect when donating blood through the American Red Cross:

• You will provide required information and show identification at registration. You also will have the opportunity to read information about donating blood.

• A private interview will follow registration. During the interview, a member of the donation team will take your health history, asking about medications you take and places you have traveled.

• A member of the donation team will check your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin level. Hemoglobin is the protein contained in red blood cells that is responsible for delivering oxygen to the body’s tissues. If these tests show that you are eligible to give blood, you will proceed to the donation area.

• You will be seated to donate blood, and a donation team member will clean your arm and insert a new, sterile needle for the blood draw. A whole-blood donation takes about 10 minutes.

“After the donation is complete, you’ll receive a snack and a drink in a refreshment area while you recover for 15 minutes,” Chumney said. “After the recovery time, you can leave and continue your day as normal.” Plan for the entire process to take about one hour, from check-in to departure.

Most donated whole blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate it into red cells, platelets and plasma components. In some cases, plasma can be further processed into cryoprecipitate, which is frozen blood product.

Red blood cells and platelets are leuko-reduced, which means that white blood cells have been removed to reduce the chances of a recipient having a reaction to a transfusion. Donated blood also is tested for blood type and infectious diseases. “Only blood that is negative for infectious diseases is labeled for use,” Chumney said.

Blood products are labeled with the donor’s unique donation number, unit blood type, product type and expiration date. Red cells are stored for up to 42 days and platelets for up to five days after donation; plasma and cryoprecipitate are stored for up to a year. The American Red Cross ships blood products to hospitals on request. Once the blood reaches the hospital, it is given to a patient in need.

If you are interested in donating blood, visit American Red Cross Blood Services to find convenient locations and times.

Sources:
American Red Cross
Aultman Health System