American Red Cross of Southeastern PA needs your blood donation

Alana Mauger, Regional Communications Manager for the American Red Cross Southeastern PA and ARC Communications volunteer and blood recipient, Jenny Farley who received 5 blood transfusions following surgical complications in November. We discussed the critical need for blood donations; always an issue during the holidays and winter months, this year collections were hit by the massive snowstorms with 500 drives cancelled.Alana talked about our local blood supply, platelets have a five-day shelf life. They must constantly collect units to supply hospitals with whole blood, plasma and platelets. Jenny shared her story, a routine surgery had complications that required five units to get her blood pressure back to near collapse. They discussed the ways blood is tested and then broken down to its components, allowing one donation to help several patients. They noted the continuing need not just for trauma victims, but for patients being treated for cancer and other chronic illnesses. We discussed the need for donors from all communities, as an example, Sickle Cell patients can receive so many transfusions they develop reactions to elements in blood, they need a closer match. Finally, a conversation on who can give blood, they explain that many travel and sexual activity restrictions have loosened, when in doubt go to their website for more information. To schedule your donation call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.