story and graphic by Jenifer Trimble
UT Martin’s next blood drive will be on September 12 and 13 in the Boling University Center.
LIFELINE Blood Service is a 501(c) non-profit blood center that provides blood products to 21 counties in West Tennessee, 18 hospitals and 14 air helicopter services. Over 25,000 units of blood are needed every year in West Tennessee. Blood donation is needed to help save the lives of cancer patients, surgery patients, accident victims and sickle cell anemia patients. Blood donation from volunteers is crucial to maintain a steady blood supply.
There is no substitute for blood. Blood donation is in constant need. Donations rely on volunteers. Basic requirements for donating blood: you will need to be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds, and be in good health. Other qualifications for who can donate are routinely updated. If you were told in the past that you could not donate blood, you might be able to donate blood today. Blood donation takes about 30 to 45 minutes. At check-in, you will need a photo identification. Additionally, you can fill out the medical questionnaire online on the blood donation day to save time at the donation center. https://www.lifelinebloodserv.org/online-medical-questionnaire
It is important to eat and be well-hydrated before donating blood. This will help during and after donating blood. The process of blood donation is simple. Once the administration part is done, you will recline in a comfortable chair. A technician will prepare your arm for donation. Your blood will be collected in a one-pint sterile labeled bag. Once a pint of blood has been collected, you will have a snack and a beverage to rehydrate. Your part of the donation process is done. You can donate blood every eight weeks.
After you donate blood, the blood is stored in a refrigerated container for about three days while it is screened for safe usage. A blood donation is good for up to 42 days. Currently, there is a shortage of blood donations. As soon as Lifeline is told by the testing facility that your blood donation is eligible for donation, it is sent out to local hospitals or helicopter transport services.
Melinda Reed, LIFELINE market manager, says that 75% of blood donation is done through mobile blood drives. Blood donation is also accepted at the blood centers at 183 Sterling Farm Drive in Jackson and 1130 Highway 51 Bypass Suite 19 & 20 in Dyersburg. Also at the blood center in Jackson and Dyersburg, donation of platelets and plasma is accepted by appointment. The donation of platelets will take about two hours for the donation process. Platelet donations can be made every 15 days. Plasma donating takes less than two hours and you can donate once a month.
Hannah Flora, donor recruitment coordinator said “The bloodmobile is not handicap accessible. As of June of this year, LIFELINE has the option to set up cots and draw blood without the bloodmobile. To do an “inside set up drive” we need access to 1100 sq ft room that’s clear and has access to 4-6 outlets.” Flora continues to say, “Due to the size of the machines, blood donations are the only type of donations we can draw at a blood drive. We take Plasma and Platelet donations by appointment only at our Jackson and Dyersburg centers.”
Flora says that less than 10% of eligible donors donate blood. Blood is needed in the United States every 10 seconds. It only takes 30-40 minutes of your time to help save the lives of up to 3 people. There is no substitute for blood, so please donate blood if possible!
In the words of Cherie Parker, “Give blood, Save a life.”
