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4/ TheBucknerClarion.com July 10, 2014 Donations Needed Community Blood Center Mobile Drive July 10 During the holidays and summer months, blood donations are more likely to be in short supply. "During the summer, it is common for donors to be turned away before giving blood because their iron levels are too low," Bussell said. "During the winter months, cold, flu and illness get in the way." Currently, Community Blood Center is experiencing a critical shortage of blood supply, meaning they have less than one day of inventory needed. Doug Meyers, M.D., bone marrow transplant specialist, expressed the importance of donating blood on savealifenow.org. He challenges people to imagine if their child or loved one were in a life- threatening situation as encouragement to donate blood. "Imagine what it would be like if something [your] loved one needs to live is in short supply," Dr. Myers said. "The next person who walks by your door might be the one who saves your life, or you might save theirs. I can't think of a better reason to donate blood." Anyone who is healthy, at least 16 years old and weighs 115 pounds is eligible to donate blood every eight weeks. "The best candidate to donate blood is anyone who is of age, in normal, good health and wants to help save a life," Bussell said. "Because that's what you're doing when you donate blood. You're giving people the gift of life, and you never know whose life you're going to save." Sign up at www.esavealifenow.org using sponsor code BSLCOMM, or contact Mrs. Delores Hirst at 816.650.3763. Bring a photo ID. By Hollis Schnieders Every four minutes, someone in Missouri or Kansas needs a blood transfusion. Accident victims suffering massive blood loss may require up to 50 pints of red blood cells, while cancer, organ transplant and open-heart surgery patients may require platelet transfusions to survive. In order to meet this need, Community Blood Center, the primary supplier of blood to local hospitals, must collect 580 pints of blood every day – over 140,000 pints annually. The Eastern Jackson County communities of Buckner, Levasy and Sibley are partnering with the Community Blood Center to offer a mobile blood drive on Thursday, July 10, from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center in the Masonic Lodge building at 610 S. Sibley Street in Buckner. Community Blood Center, an independent, not-for-profit organization, has served hospitals in both Missouri and Kansas for almost 50 years. Relying solely on volunteer blood donations, Community Blood Center sends out almost 3,600 units of blood components each week to treat patients in over 70 area hospitals. "The mobile drives do the best they can, and usually collect between 35-40 pints in the Buckner area," said Center Chairperson Pamela Bussell. John O'Hara, a blood transfusion recipient, was pulled from a burning house after a home explosion that caused burns on over 90 percent of his body. After being transported to KU Medical Center, O'Hara received blood transfusions from Community Blood Center. "The fire fighters and EMTs kept me alive initially, but without the blood transfusions, I wouldn't be alive today," he said on savealifenow.org. "People realize that blood is needed for tragic injuries, but you have to stop and think how much," Bussell said. "Depending on the treatment, people need different components and amounts of blood." Sometimes patients need more than one blood transfusion, and sometimes daily or weekly transfusions are necessary. In order to receive the amounts and components of blood necessary, a variety of donation types are available. They include: Whole blood donation – a pint of blood is collected and separated into plasma and red blood cells. Apheresis – only the blood components that are needed, with the remaining blood returned to the donor. Blood components that can be donated through apheresis are as follows: ● Red cells – blood component needed most by hospitals. Often necessary to treat surgery and emergency patients. ● Platelets – collected to help patients who suffer from leukemia, cancer, aplastic anemia and other blood disorders. ● Plasma – contains vital clotting factors and is often needed by burn victims and patients with hematological disorders.