Give Blood for the Holidays and Give Life

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors to give more life to patients now and into the new year by giving blood or platelets.

Donations decline during the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day when busy holiday schedules cause regular donors to be less available to give and many blood drives may be canceled due to severe winter storms.

Last year, nearly 64,000 fewer blood and platelet donations were given through the Red Cross during the seven weeks from Thanksgiving through the first week of January than the average during the rest of the year.

“By taking just about an hour of time today, you can help save someone’s life within a few weeks or even days of your donation,” said Alana Mauger, communications manager of the Red Cross Penn Jersey Blood Services Region. 

“We’re asking donors to give now to help ensure blood is available when patients need it most.”

Blood is perishable and can only be replenished by volunteer donors. Red blood cells, the most transfused blood product, must be transfused within 42 days. Platelets, the tiny cells that form clots and help stop bleeding, must be transfused within just five days. More than half of all platelet donations go to cancer patients who may need platelet transfusions to prevent life-threatening bleeding during chemotherapy.

"The platelets were hung by the chimney with care ..."

“Platelet donors don’t have to wait a few weeks to make a difference in a patient’s life,” said Mauger. “Someone could donate platelets on Monday, and by Friday, those same platelets can help someone’s fight to kick cancer.”

Kelly Ellison certainly knows that. 

Twenty-eight weeks into her third pregnancy, she was raced to the hospital with uncontrollable bleeding and received a doubly devastating diagnosis. Not only did she have aplastic anemia – a rare blood disorder in which the body’s bone marrow does not produce enough new blood cells – doctors also detected kidney cancer. Kelly received 43 units of blood and platelets. Five weeks later, she gave birth prematurely to her son, who also needed blood transfusions to survive.

“Our lives have been forever changed because of lifesaving blood and platelet
donations,” said Ellison. “Every breath I take is a blessing!”

All blood types are needed this winter. Platelet donations are especially encouraged the first week of the new year, which is among the most difficult to collect enough platelets to meet patient needs. 

Donation appointments can be quickly and easily scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a special thank-you for taking the time to donate, those who come to give Dec. 21 through Jan. 7 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Berks, Chester and Montgomery Counties:

Berks

Reading: 

1/3/2018: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Crowne Plaza, 1741 Paper Mill Road

Chester

West Chester:

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center, 523 East Gay St., West Chester
Monday - Thursday: 11:45 a.m. – 7:45 p.m. (whole blood)
Friday - Sunday: 7:15 a.m. - 3 p.m. (whole blood & platelet pheresis)

Downingtown

• 1/4/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Simpson Meadows, 101 Plaza Drive
• 1/10/2018: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Chester County Intermediate Unit, 455 Boot Road
• 1/15/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Hopewell United Methodist Church, Family Life Center, 852 Hopewell Road

Exton

• 12/31/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Clarion at Exton, 815 N. Pottstown Pike
• 1/4/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., AGI, 220 Valley Creek Blvd.

Phoenixville

• 12/27/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 865 S. Main St.
• 1/4/2018: 6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Medical Conference Center, 826 Main St.
• 1/8/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Technical College High School, 1580 Charlestown Road
• 1/10/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 500 Cresson Blvd.

Montgomery

Willow Grove

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center, 31 Easton Road
Monday - Wednesday: 11:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (platelet pheresis)
Thursday - Sunday: 7:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. (platelet pheresis)

Collegeville
1/3/2018: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Trinity United Church of Christ, 532 E. Main St.

Eagleville
12/30/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Lower Providence Fire Company, 3199 W. Ridge Pike

Gilbertsville
12/24/2017: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Douglass Township Municipal Building, 1320 E. Philadelphia Ave.

Harleysville

• 1/4/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Arbour Square, 695 Main St.
• 1/12/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Tabor United Methodist Church, 2209 Hendricks Station Road

King of Prussia

• 12/29/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Doubletree Hotel, 301 W. Dekalb Pike
• 1/13/2018: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Creation Kids Worship Room, 150 E. Beidler Road

Kulpsville
12/28/2017: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., The Peter Powerhouse Foundation at Towamencin Mennonite Church, 1980 Sumneytown Pike

Limerick

• 1/5/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Crossroads Presbyterian Church, 10 W. Cherry Lane
• 1/6/2018: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Spring Valley YMCA, 19 Linfield Trappe Road

Pottstown

• 12/26/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Pottstown YMCA, 724 N. Adams St.
• 1/2/2018: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pottstown Elks Lodge No. 814, 61 E. High St.
• 1/8/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Comfort Inn, 99 Robinson St.
• 1/15/2018: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Comfort Inn, 99 Robinson St.

Royersford
1/8/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Parkhouse Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 1600 Black Rock Road

Schwenksville
12/29/2017: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 40 Spring Mount Road

How to donate blood or platelets
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from a computer or mobile device. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.