Every two seconds, someone needs a blood transfusion – blood that can’t be made, only collected, from blood drives.

On Wednesday, February 1, ISD 15  sponsored a blood drive through the Memorial Blood Centers, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that has been supplying local hospitals with blood for the past 60 years.

Held in the St. Francis Middle School parking lot, donors  boarded a “blood mobile” and in a matter of 10 minutes can give a life-saving donation. Each donation provides the blood products that can save up to three lives.

“People can set up an appointment online at www.mbc.org/searchdrives and enter code 3350, or they can just walk-in,” said Debra Ahlers of Memorial Blood Centers. “We encourage walk-ins from teachers, students, staff and community members.”

Even if people missed the opportunity in St. Francis, they can log onto the website and find the next blood drive close to home.

Ahlers said the process is simple. Donors answer a number of health history questions, get their hemoglobin checked, and a quick pulse, blood pressure and temperature exam.

“We are highly regulated by FDA guidelines to make sure people are in a healthy range,” said Ahlers.

The donation process takes less than 10 minutes in the chair.
All blood types are needed, but right now Ahlers said there is a shortage of O negative, O positive, A positive, B negative and B positive blood.

“We are dangerously low on B negative,” she said.

January was National Blood Donor Month and several area organizations sponsor blood drives each year through The American Red Cross and the Memorial Blood Centers.

St.Francis United Methodist Church held a blood drive on December 28. Their goal was 55 pints of blood that could save 165 lives.

“[Blood is] a really good gift to give to someone you don’t know” said sophomore Alexis Dykema who helped coordinate the drive.

Ahlers explained how one donation can save up to three lives. Patients in the hospital don’t get the whole unit. Once the blood is collected, it is separated into three units: red cells can be used for someone who was in an accident or anemic, platelets are often used for cancer patients or individuals with a bleeding disorder because they help with clotting and plasma is a volumizer. Fresh frozen plasma or “ffp” is often used to help burn victims to to rehydrate their bodies.

“Each component serves a different purpose,” said Ahlers. “People don’t realize that and it’s quite powerful actually.”

Every September and March, Trinity Lutheran Church in St.Francis hosts a blood drive as well where the goal is to raise 65 pints of blood.

“It’s harder to get people to donate today,” said Karen Koch, a teacher and the volunteer coordinator of the blood drive.

Koch says that the donations go up during disasters, but stay low during a time like now. However, the American Red Cross says people still need blood.

“Giving blood is one way to help someone without any cost,” Koch said. She has given her own blood numerous times and she thinks it is a simple and easy way to save a life.

“I think the experience is worthwhile,” she said.

People over 17 can donate blood, but 16-year-olds need a parent’s consent.
SFHS students will also have another opportunity to donate blood during National Honor Society’s Blood drive which takes place in May.

“The process takes six to ten minutes,” said Dykema. “It’s simple and you’ll feel really good about it.”