The American Red Cross provides nearly 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply

By Mary Malik

The American Red Cross is hosting its annual Lake County Community Blood Drive on Thursday, October 20, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Express, 7701 Reynolds Road in Mentor. The Red Cross is the single largest supplier of blood in the United States, providing nearly 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply.

“Approximately every two seconds a person in the United States needs a blood transfusion,” says Christy Peters, communications manager, American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region. “Blood and platelets—cells that form clots to stop bleeding—are needed for many reasons. Accident and burn victims, surgery patients, organ transplant patients, anyone receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all need blood as part of treatment.”

Sickle Cell Awareness
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month and the American Red Cross is emphasizing the importance of a diverse blood supply to help meet the needs of those with sickle cell disease. Most individuals living with sickle cell disease are of African descent. Patients can require multiple blood transfusions per year to treat complications from the disease. Donated blood must be matched closely and is most likely found from a donor of the same race or similar ethnicity.

How to Donate
To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification. In Ohio, individuals 17 years of age—or 16 with parental consent—and generally in good health may be eligible to donate blood.

“On donation day eligible donors can expect to register, go through a health history review and have their blood pressure, temperature and iron level checked,” says Christy. “Expect the entire process to take about one hour and 15 minutes, ending with refreshments. And donors on October 20 will receive a Red Cross tote bag filled with giveaways from area businesses.”

Save up to 15 minutes at the Lake County blood drive by completing a RapidPass, where donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online—on the day of donation—from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor app.

Volunteers Needed, Too
Through all of its efforts, the Red Cross mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering and local volunteers carry out that mission every day. Additional volunteers are always needed.

“Through disaster response the Red Cross provides food, shelter and comfort to individuals and families in need as well as casework and recovery assistance for disaster survivors,” Christy says. “The Red Cross installs free smoke alarms and shares fire safety information through our Home Fire Campaign, and The Hero Care Network provides support to service members and their families pre-deployment, during deployment, and when they return home.”

And in the last year more than 54,000 individuals in the Northern Ohio Region learned critical safety skills through Red Cross courses including first aid/CPR/AED and water safety, and more than 3,500 children were reached through preparedness programs like the Pillowcase Project and Pedro the Penguin.

Ninety percent of the humanitarian work of the Red Cross is carried out by volunteers and a variety of positions is available for those who want to help continue the mission of the Red Cross.

For more information about Red Cross programs and the Lake County Blood Drive visit RedCross.org. Learn more about volunteer positions at RedCross.org/Volunteer or contact the local Red Cross volunteer team at NEOvolunteer@RedCross.org 216-431-3328.