Red Cross urges blood and platelet donation in recognition of
Trauma Awareness Month
TENNESSEE VALLEY— May is Trauma Awareness Month and the American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood or platelets to help ensure lifesaving blood products are available for trauma patients and others with serious medical needs.
Each year, trauma accounts for approximately 41 million emergency department visits and 2.3 million hospital admissions in the U.S., according to the National Trauma Institute. A single car accident victim can need as many as 100 units of blood.
The Red Cross provides blood to approximately 2,600 hospitals nationwide, including more than 60 hospitals throughout the Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Blood Services Region.
“It’s the blood products on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency,” said Mario Sedlock, director of donor recruitment of the Red Cross Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Blood Services Region. “When seconds matter, having a readily available blood supply is critical to trauma patient care.”
When there is not time to determine a patient’s blood type, such as in trauma situations, type O negative blood and type AB plasma are what emergency personnel reach for because they can be given to patients with any blood type. Less than 7 percent of the population has type O negative blood, and only about 4 percent of the population has type AB blood. Donors with these blood types are an important part of the trauma team and encouraged to donate as often as they are eligible.
Donors of all blood types are currently needed. Blood donation appointments can be scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Donated blood helped save Diana Heredia’s life following a car accident. Suffering from four broken ribs, a lacerated liver and a punctured lung, Heredia received about five units of blood. “I was in pretty bad shape – hospitalized for about 28 days,” she said. “Ever since I’ve tried to recruit blood donors, have blood drives and give blood as much as possible.”
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
5/2/2016: 12 – 6 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. Huntsville
5/3/2016: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Brooks High School, 4300 Highway 72 Killen
5/5/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. Huntsville
5/6/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. Huntsville
5/7/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. Huntsville
5/9/2016: 12 – 6 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. Huntsville
5/12/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. Huntsville
5/13/2016: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Russellville High School, 1865 Waterloo Road Russellville
5/13/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. Huntsville
5/14/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Madison County Blood Donation Center, 1101 Washington St. Huntsville
About donating blood or platelets
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required when checking in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), 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.
Media Release/Kristen Stancil | External Communications Manager
Biomedical Field Marketing and Communications
