According to the American Red Cross, one blood donation can potentially save up to three lives, and donations are needed now more than ever.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, blood drives were cancelled or postponed to limit the spread of the virus. However, the coronavirus also caused surges in hospital demand, leading to a rise in patients in need of emergency care. This decrease in blood donors, and the increased need for medical attention, has now resulted in a national blood shortage.
Marcia Marchese, Blood Bank manager, has been organizing Pennsylvania Hospital’s (PAH) blood drives for nearly 15 years. Previously, PAH has typically held two to three blood drives each year, but to support the blood shortage, Marchese planned a total of 10 blood drives throughout 2020 and 2021. Since the start of the pandemic in April 2020, 378 units of blood have been collected, which can save more than 1,100 lives.
Each donation can potentially give four different products – red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate.
“Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body and are used to treat anemia. Platelets are used to treat or prevent bleeding, and plasma and cryoprecipitate contain coagulation factors that are also used to treat bleeding,” said Marchese. “Surgeries require all these products, and for our hematology-oncology patients, they particularly need red blood cells and platelets as cancer treatment can cause a drop in cell counts.”
To encourage donations, Marchese places posters around the hospital’s buildings and displays cards with information about upcoming blood drives in the PAH cafeteria. There, she’ll answer questions people may have about donations and assist with registering them for an appointment.
The next blood drive will be held at the PAH Pine Building in the McClelland Conference Center on December 14 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make an appointment, visit the American Red Cross website and enter sponsor code ‘PA Hospital’.