The American Red Cross is hosting community blood drives across the Verde Valley to help meet the constant thirst for blood, which is typically at a lower supply during the summer months.
“There’s a constant need for blood,” American Red Cross Bio-Med Community Volunteer Leader Janet Dubiel said. “Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.”
Blood is crucial for cancer treatment, surgeries, organ transplants, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries such as severe burns and car accidents. A single car accident victim can require as much as 100 units of blood, according to Dubiel.
“Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation,” Dubiel said. “The Red Cross provides about 40% of our nation’s blood and blood components, all from generous volunteer donors, but supply can’t always meet demand because only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood annually.”
To keep up with the demand, the Red Cross must collect over 12,000 blood donations for patients at about 2,500 hospitals nationwide. Roughly 29,000 units of red blood are needed daily in the U.S., according to Dubiel.
Blood and platelets don’t have a very long shelf life either, contributing to the constant need for donors. Red blood cells must be used within 42 days and platelets must be used within just five days.
The four major blood groups are determined by the presence or absence of two antigens, A and B. Those with O negative type blood are universal donors, meaning their blood can be used in any transfusion. Those with AB type blood can donate plasma universally. Both O negative and O positive types are constantly in short supply and high demand by hospitals. O positive is the most frequently occurring blood type — 37% of the population — and O negative is most often used for emergency transfusions.
During the summer the blood supply drops significantly due to many people being on vacation. The supply also drops during the winter, when many donors are ill with the flu.
Dubiel added that there is no cost to donate, and that donors leave feeling valued, knowing they’ve given the gift of life to someone in need. Donors are provided with drinks and snacks. Those who donate by Aug. 28 will receive a $15 e-gift card. Whole blood donors in August will also receive A1C testing, which is used to screen for diabetes and prediabetes.
The blood collected at these community drives is processed in Phoenix and then distributed locally. Donors will receive an email notifying them of where their blood ends up.
“The newly formed Northern Arizona Chapter of the Red Cross has chosen the Verde Valley as its community of focus for the current fiscal year,” Dubiel said. “This means that we are working to expand all of our programs in this region. We are actively working to create more blood drives in Camp Verde and Cottonwood.”
Currently scheduled Red Cross blood drives in the Verde Valley are on:
■ Wednesday, Aug. 20 — Sedona Elks Lodge No. 2291, 110 Airport Road
■ Thursday, Aug. 21 — St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 889 1st S. St., Clarkdale
■ Thursday, Sept. 11 — Church of the Nazarene, 55 Rojo Drive, Village of Oak Creek
■ Thursday, Sept. 25 — Sedona Winds Assisted Living, 475 Jacks Canyon Road, Village of Oak Creek
■ Friday, Sept. 26 — Community Library Sedona, 325 White Bear Road
■ Wednesday, Oct. 8 — Sunset Village, 205 Sunset Drive, west of Sedona
■ Thursday, Oct. 23 — Oakcreek Country Club, 690 Bell Rock Blvd., Village of Oak Creek
■ Tuesday, Nov. 4 — Cliff Castle Casino
Making an appointment is highly recommended, which can be done at redcrossblood.org. First-time donors are encouraged to donate. Volunteer at redcross.org/volunteer. For additional information, contact janet.dubiel@redcross.org.