You can be a hero. Consider this: Every two seconds someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion. Nearly 25 percent of the population will require a transfusion at some point in their lives. Those helped include trauma patients, cancer patients, premature babies and many more. The good news is that you can be that hero you’ve always dreamed about and help to save lives by donating blood. Human blood has no substitute and cannot be manufactured in a lab. It is up to us to help sustain the supply. The Miller-Keystone Blood Center in Reading supplies blood to 29 hospitals throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The world is currently facing a nationwide blood shortage, so making a donation appointment is more important than ever. Marketing Manager Holly Yacynch says, “We are so grateful to our donors, whether they donate one time or multiple times. You’re really truly improving other people’s lives through your donation.”
What to Expect
Donating blood is vital, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when donor numbers have dropped, and many high schools and colleges are closed and unable to hold regular blood drives. Yacynch states, “We are seeing our blood supply really being exhausted because fewer people are donating. Once it’s gone, and the hospital needs it, we may not have it to give.”
It is important to keep in mind that donating is very safe. Everything at the donor site, including chairs, pens, doorknobs, etc. is sanitized, sterilized and cleaned in between each donor appointment. All staff members check their health daily and are equipped with PPE. Donors must schedule an appointment and complete a health screening at giveapint.org. Here is what you can expect on the day of your donation:
- Upon arrival a staff member will check your vital signs and get you set up in the donor area. At this point, a needle will be inserted in the arm in order to collect the blood.
- Sit back and relax with a book or watch a tv show as the process takes about 45 minutes to complete.
- When finished, you’ll be taken to a canteen area where a drink and snack will be provided, and staff will ensure you feel well enough before leaving the facility.
That’s it! You may have just made a life-saving difference for the recipient of your donation.
Your Donation Makes a Difference
When you donate, you give one pint of blood. That one pint goes a long way in that it helps save the lives of three people. This amazing contribution also helps add to the 450 units of blood that must be collected daily to maintain the supply. A true sense of gratification will fill your heart as you walk away from this experience. Donors, especially our younger generation, are in great demand because, as Yacynch says, “the blood they’re donating today is really helping people tomorrow.”
O is for Everyone. The universal blood type that can be transfused into anyone is O negative. That makes it very valuable, as it’s highly needed, so it is sometimes difficult to find.
Organize a Drive. The Miller-Keystone Blood Center offers a special adopt-a-day program that gives organizations the opportunity to borrow the center’s space and host their own blood drive.
