Humanitarian Encourages Local Communities to Host Blood Drives

Blood donations needed during summer travel months  

Doris Dunn

The American Red Cross provides 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply. Community blood drives make up 80 percent of all blood donated to the American Red Cross nationally. Successful blood drives are critical to supplying local hospitals and their patients with the life-saving blood needed daily. 

Doris Dunn, a Williamson County resident, and American Red Cross Nashville Area Chapter Board member knows those statistics very well. She has been donating blood with the Red Cross for decades.  

“My mother passed away with breast cancer when I was 14,” she said. “Mom needed a pint of blood every other day when she was in treatment. That is when I decided I wanted to donate blood to help others with similar needs.”  

Dunn began donating when her high school scheduled a blood drive and continued to donate regularly, trying to donate every 56 days, if possible. Each January, she makes sure to donate in honor of her mother’s birthday. “I consider it a birthday present for Mom,” she said. “I lived in California for 17 years and would donate during blood drives at work and outside of work to try and donate every time I was eligible.” After moving back to College Grove, Tennessee, her regular donations sparked another desire to give back, hosting her own community blood drive for her neighborhood.  

  

“When I moved back here, the first drive I hosted was during COVID-19 pandemic and I just wanted to do something,” she remembered. “The blood drive was held on Martin Luther King Day, and we had an overwhelming response. The Red Cross bus came, and it was great to see our neighbors get so involved. Since that day, we have scheduled drives each quarter, and each one has surpassed its goal.” 

 

The drive is known as the McDaniel Community Blood Drive in Williamson County, and it averages about 25 units of blood for each drive. The support for the drive is felt throughout the neighborhood and Dunn says she feels so inspired by each donor.  

 

“There will always be a small child that needs blood, or a cancer patient who needs platelets,” Dunn said. “When I am at the blood drives, I share those stories. We know that every two seconds in the United States someone needs blood. However, only three percent of the people who can donate do so. I remind our donors of those facts, so they know how important it is to donate regularly.”  

 

More facts about blood donation:  

• Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U. S.  
• Nearly 5,000 units of platelets and 6.500 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.  
• Nearly 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S. 
• Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require blood transfusions throughout their lives. 
• The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 units. 
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. 
• Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they can only come from volunteer donors. 
• The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O. 
• One donation can help save more than one life.  

Dunn encourages more communities to get involved in hosting their own blood drives. “It is so easy,” she said. “You contact your local Red Cross, and your assigned account manager will handle it all. As a host, you set the date and then help promote it around your community.” The next scheduled blood drive for the McDaniel Community Blood Drive is set for Aug. 4, 2022. “We always fill up our appointments for our drives. It is great to see so many who want to help patients in Tennessee.”  

Doris Dunn donating blood

 

Blood drive safety  

The Red Cross follows a high standard of safety and infection control. The Red Cross will continue to socially distance wherever possible at blood drives, donation centers and facilities. While donors are no longer required to wear a face mask, individuals may choose to continue to wear a mask for any reason. The Red Cross will also adhere to more stringent face mask requirements per state and/or local guidance, or at the request of blood drive sponsors. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at a drive.   

  

How to donate blood 

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification 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 have to meet certain height and weight requirements. 

 

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.