WINTERSVILLE - Officials with the American Red Cross Jefferson County Chapter are telling those throughout the community, "Don't just be ordinary - be extraordinary. Be a blood donor."
That is the theme given to this year's Media Blood Donor Day, which is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 21 at St. Florian Hall.
Executive Director Kathy Musso explained during Thursday's kickoff luncheon for media that the annual event once again has set a goal of collecting 150 units of blood.
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MAKING?PLANS — John Cucarese, a board member and blood donor for the American Red Cross Jefferson County Chapter, and Dana Zimish, donor recruitment field representative for the Greater Alleghenies Region, discussed on Thursday some of the plans for this year’s Media Blood Donor Day. The annual event will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 21 at St. Florian Hall in Wintersville. The theme is, “Don’t just be ordinary —be extraordinary. Be a blood donor.”
Musso said the blood donation process takes just over an hour and consists of the registration process, providing a health history, the donation process and then visiting the canteen area where refreshments are served.
Donations from businesses to be given as drawing prizes during the blood drive are being sought by the Red Cross, with planning for the drive to continue in the coming months.
Musso discussed the importance of donating blood, noting some people offer excuses as to why they haven't donated blood.
Among those excuses are, "No one has ever asked me to donate blood." Musso said.
"Other people must be giving enough blood," is another excuse.
Musso noted the demand for blood and blood products in constant.
Also, those who have not given blood because they believe they are not the right blood type should realize all types of blood are needed all the time, she said.
Some statistics released about blood include annually there are 4 million blood recipients in the United States alone. Those recipients need 12 million units of red cells, 4.7 million units of platelets, 600,000 apheresis platelets, 2.3 million units of plasma and 1 million units of cryoprecipitate.
The leading users of blood include 18 percent needing blood for leukemia, bone marrow and cancer patients; 15 percent need for gastrointestinal blood loss which is not cancer related; 13 percent of blood goes to hereditary, nutritional and other anemias not cancer related; 11 percent to cardiac patients; 14 percent to orthopedic and urologic surgery; 12 percent for trauma patients; 13 percent for other types of surgery; and 4 percent for obstetrics and gynecological.
Local Red Cross officials are planning a follow-up meeting for the local media, Mussio added. T-shirts of various colors are expected to be distributed to donors during the June event.
For information, contact Musso at the chapter at 81 Talbott Drive at (740) 264-7244.
(Ghrist can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)
