Blood sought at 'extremely difficult' time

Blood is always in demand, but that is especially true at this time of the year when a number of collection events are scheduled across Surry County during June in response.

The fact many people might be enjoying themselves at the beach or on other outings doesn’t change the situation for patients lying in hospitals who are in dire need of that lifesaving commodity.

“The summer months are extremely difficult months for our organization,” said Christopher Newman of the American Red Cross in Winston-Salem, which coordinates blood drives locally.

“Severe weather and record-breaking travel are expected to continue throughout summer, potentially further impacting the ability of donors to give,” Newman added Monday.

Not only is the season filled with vacations and other distractions that might keep folks from rolling up their sleeves, the fact schools are not in session also affects the blood stockpile.

The school population normally contributes around 20 % of the American Red Cross supply, Newman has said.

Donations down

Although such seasonal factors pose challenges in maintaining the blood supply every year, the Red Cross spokesman pointed to what he termed “a concerning recent trend.”

That simply involves a decline in donors giving blood, even before the official start of the summer vacation period.

About 20,000 fewer donations were collected over the past month than were needed to protect the Red Cross national blood supply, according to Newman.

“Donors of all blood types are needed now, especially those with type O blood and donors giving platelets.”

Type O negative is the universal blood type and what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type in the most-serious situations, Newman explained.

He said type O positive is the most-used blood variety because it can be transfused to Rhpositive patients of any type.

Platelets, meanwhile, are the clotting portion of blood, needed by many trauma patients as well as cancer patients, and must be transfused within five days of donation.

Local drives planned

The Red Cross is urging the public to make blood or platelet donations a priority this summer.

Times to give can be booked by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

Collection events that are open to the public are planned locally during June, including these days, times and locations:

• Wednesday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at Dobson Church of Christ, 165 Dobson Church of Christ Road;

• Next Sunday, 12:30 to 5 p.m., Bannertown Baptist Church, 1834 Westfield Road, Mount Airy;

• June 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Cross Creek Country Club, 1129 Greenhill Road, Mount Airy;

• June 13, 3 to 7 p.m., Little Richmond Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 9609 N.C. Highway 268, Elkin;

• June 15, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Antioch Baptist Church, 137 Antioch Ave.,Mount Airy;

• June 17, 1:30 to 6 p.m., an Elkin community drive at the Elkin Rescue Squad building, 940 N. Bridge St.;

• June 18, 2:30 to 7 p.m., Haymore Baptist Church, 319 Rockford St., Mount Airy;

• June 18, 2 to 6:30 p.m., VFW Post 9436 meeting room, 142 Veterans Drive, Pilot Mountain;

• June 19, noon to 4 p.m., a Mount Airy community drive at the Surry American Red Cross building, 844 Westlake Drive;

• June 20, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., State Employees’ Credit Union, 826 E Atkins St., Dobson;

• June 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., AES, 101 Technology Lane, Mount Airy, involving a visit by the American Red Cross bus;

• June 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hugh Chatham Health, 180 Parkwood Drive, Elkin;

• June 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Custom Built Structures, 510 Riverside Drive, Mount Airy, involving a visit by the American Red Cross bus;

• June 30, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Salem Fork Christian Church Fellowship Hall, 2490 Zephyr Road, Dobson;

• June 30, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1432 Highway 21, State Road.

Special incentives

Although helping one’s fellow man is reward enough for some to give blood, extra incentives await donors this month.

The Red Cross has teamed up with Tetris, creators of the iconic, best-selling video game, to celebrate their 40th anniversary and build the blood supply for patients in need.

In commemoration, those who come to give through next Sunday will get an exclusive Tetris American Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to New York to meet Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov.

Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Tetris.

Those donating from next Monday to June 30 will get a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice, with details available at RedCrossBlood.org/DoGood.