By Briana Phillips, Red Cross volunteer, and Dr. Melanie Wooten, Red Cross medical director
 |
| Dr. Melanie Wooten |
As medical director, Dr. Wooten’s job is to oversee the blood donation department for any potential health risks to donors and patients. From the donation centers, to the inventory shelves, to the hospital operating rooms, her mission is to make sure that every donation is transferred successfully.
“From the donor’s vein to the patient’s vein, we want all our blood donations to be as safe and potent as possible,” Dr. Wooten stated.
Volunteers and donors alike are required to wear masks and socially distance during donation. All beds and other materials are sanitized after each donor to ensure safety.
“I believe we have taken every step possible to minimize risk to our donors and volunteers,” Dr. Wooten said. “With all the measures we’ve taken, giving blood in one of our centers is one of the easiest and safest things someone can do.”
While making things safe is easy, having a dependable blood supply on hand is much harder. Donor turnout has reached the lowest levels of the year, with September and October having the lowest national blood inventory levels in more than a decade.
As a doctor who specializes in transfusion medicine, Dr. Wooten has seen firsthand how important it is to have blood on the shelves for traumas, patients who require chronic transfusions (like those with sickle cell disease), and for cancer patients who are undergoing treatment (which may inhibit their ability to make their own red blood cells and platelets).
Dr. Wooten leads by example by giving regularly and recently donated platelets.
“I always try to prepare the best I can on the day of my donation,” she said. “I drink a decent amount of water, eat well and try to get a good night sleep the night before.”
“I have AB negative, which is not as great as a type O, but I know that my plasma and platelets can still be very beneficial for someone that is in need. No one should discount themselves just because they may not be a universal donor. Every type can be used in one way or another.”
As a plus, you can see where your donation ends up through the free Red Cross Blood Donor app. “It’s very rewarding to see where your blood ends up being sent…I love seeing where my blood is making a difference,” Dr. Wooten said.
Please consider making a blood, platelet or plasma donation to the Red Cross. No matter which blood type you have, you can make an immense difference in someone’s life -- you can literally save it! All it takes is rolling up your sleeve. Learn more at RedCrossBlood.org.
Blood drive safety
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.
Save time during donation
Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.
Health insights for donors
At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease who require trait-negative blood. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.
Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.
------------------------------------------------
The holiday season is a time for festivities and family. It’s also a time to give back. This year, you can give a meaningful gift that helps people through some of life’s toughest moments. Please consider making a financial gift this holiday season to bring help and hope. You can also donate blood or platelets to make a lifesaving difference for patients in need. Visit redcross.org. #GiveWithMeaning
No comments:
Post a Comment