Give Blood, please

COVID-19 is having more effects on our world than we even thought about in those early days two years ago. You know, when we were told it would all go away as soon as it warmed up in April...

Now the virus has moved the the American Red Cross to announce that the US is facing its worst blood shortage in over a decade.

This means there is a  “concerning risk” to the treatment of patients, the Red Cross says, because doctors are going to have to make some tough calls about who will receive blood transfusions and who will have to wait.

It's that two-edged sword right now: more people in hospitals due to the virus, and 10 percent fewer people donating blood these days.

 

Dr. Baia Lasky, the medical director for the ARC, says, “There’s just been such an upending of the normal rhythm of our lives,” referring to those who regularly donated blood in the past. “It’s just really hard to get back into the swing of things,” she said, pointing out that so people do not wish to go into a public space if it's not essential.

And what's more, staff shortages have caused blood drives to be cancelled, there has been bad weather all over, and that all adds up to a serious shortage of blood.

Dr Lasky reminds us that “Blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled,” nor stored indefinitely.  “It’s really the blood on our shelves that we have today that saves lives today.”

Of late, the Red Cross has had less than a day’s worth of the most critical blood types.  This is serious business.

And you can help. I started donating in 1984 to repay a debt I felt I owed for blood transfusions Peggy received during an illness. My next donation will be my 86th, and if you know me at all, you know I am not prone to doing anything that makes me uncomfortable or causes pain. The needle will not hurt you. You will be well-cared for as you donate, and you won't leave without having a drink and a snack and some warm words from a grateful staffer or two. It takes maybe 90 minutes out of your day, and you were just going to watch a rerun of "Everybody Loves Raymond," anyway, so why not go do something to help others?  Marie Barone would be proud of you, as will I.

Enjoy your Lorna Doone cookies! Call today, please.