Facing a Crisis in Blood

By Mitch Traphagen

mitch@observernews.net

TAMPA - Just to meet the local need, 600 people must volunteer a little bit of their time and a little bit of something else - their blood. Six hundred people, in the Tampa Bay area alone, must do this every single day of the week.

That is according to demand estimates by Florida Blood Services in Tampa.

There is no substitute for blood. It cannot be artificially manufactured, there is no synthetic equivalent. The human body is the miraculous machine that can produce not only enough for yourself but also enough to help your neighbor. The problem lies in the fact that not enough people are willing to help their neighbor.

"More than 60 percent of the adult population is able to donate blood," said Vicki Haberbosch, Director of Public Relations for Bloodnet USA. "Unfortunately only about five percent of those people are actually doing it."

Both Bloodnet USA, which supplies hospitals in central Florida including South Bay and Brandon Regional and Florida Blood Services are reporting that their blood supplies are low. In some cases dangerously low.

"One of the big reasons is that transfusions are now considered relatively safe," said Haberbosch. "As such, physicians are far more likely to prescribe blood today. In the past four years usage is up 24 to 68 percent. Donations have not gone up that much."

For patients in need, the generosity of donors is paramount. Donated blood is not only lifesaving it is a requirement. Florida law prohibits paying for blood used in a transfusion.

Simple math tells the problem. According to FBS, nine out of ten people who live to the age of 70 will need blood at some point in their lives. Ninety percent of the population aged 70 and above are depending on the five percent that are willing to donate. They are counting on them with their lives.

Ninety percent. These people are your neighbors, that happy neighborhood kid, your parents, even your children.

For Florida Blood Services the problem has become especially acute. FBS has been named as one of six hub centers in the nation designated to supply blood to the military if needed during wartime.

With war looming on the horizon, this means that FBS will need to attract even more donors.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, federal officials have recommended that blood centers maintain a five day supply. Both FBS and Bloodnet USA report that supplies are currently not that high. As of mid-March, FBS has a two to three day supply for all types except for AB+. That blood type is the most infrequently used and is in good supply.

There are many factors effecting the current blood supply. One negative factor is a myth that blood agencies are struggling to overcome, a myth that relates to 9/11.

In the days following the terror attacks on New York and Washington, millions of Americans looking for something, anything to do that might help, lined up to donate blood. The need for the blood did not materialize. As such, the public began seeing their blood donations literally poured down the drain. But did they?

"Florida Blood Services, along with the majority of agencies took a proactive role when we realized that the need was not as desperate as we first believed," said FBS Vice President J.B. Gaskins. "Three days after 9/11 we stopped taking blood."

According to Gaskins the image of wasted blood stemmed from a decision by the leadership of the Red Cross to continue to allow donations even though the need was not there. "The leadership recognized that people felt the need to do something," he said. FBS is not part of the Red Cross.

"I can tell you unequivocally that not one unit of blood donated to FBS as a result of 9/11 expired. We are prepared to take a proactive role if something should happen again. We are the stewards of the blood supply and we are fiscally responsible to the community." According to Gaskins, FBS was the first blood center outside of those in New York to provide blood to the scene during that time.

Haberbosch of Bloodnet USA echoed the same sentiment. "If anyone is willing and able to donate, we are so grateful. We will make sure that it gets used. We will find a significant use for your blood."

Haberbosch speaks from experience in finding uses for blood. In addition to being responsible for public relations, she also has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master's degree in Public Health and was a trauma nurse during the Gulf War.

Donating blood requires little time, is almost completely painless and is among the greatest of gifts that people can give to their neighbors. Those neighbors may be in Ruskin, in Tampa, or on a desert battlefield in the Middle East. There is no cost to you as the volume of the donated blood is replaced within 24 hours and the red cells are replaced within a few weeks. Recent research has, in fact, indicated significant health benefits, particularly in men, for donating blood. There is usually even a free t-shirt or other gift for the donor.

The benefits, of course, extend far beyond the 30 to 60 minutes required to donate. Each pint of donated blood may touch as many as five lives.

Both local agencies have taken steps to ensure that donating is as convenient as possible. In addition to their mobile donation vehicles, Bloodnet USA maintains donation centers in both Sun City Center and Brandon. Additionally, the organization encourages local social groups to schedule blood drives.

Florida Blood Services also maintains a fleet of Bloodmobiles as well as a donation centers across the Tampa Bay area. For south Hillsborough, the nearest center is in Brandon. Several churches and area organizations, however, are on an eight week rotating Bloodmobile schedule.

When a crisis occurs there is something that you can do to help. In this case, however, waiting for a crisis to occur is not a solution. Blood waiting on a shelf is better in an emergency than blood that is still in your body while you wait in line to donate. Crisis or not, the need is always there.

For information about donating with Florida Blood Services call 800-68-BLOOD. For information about donating with Bloodnet USA call 800-683-8355.