Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, May 4, 2016
(UNDATED) - 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 56 hospitals throughout the River Valley Blood Services Region.
"It's the blood products on the shelves that help save lives in an emergency," said Tiffany Taylor, external communications manager of the Red Cross River Valley 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:
Cummins Plant # 1, 500 Central Ave. Columbus, IN 47202 5/5/2016: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Columbus Blood Donation Center, 931 Repp Dr. Columbus, IN 47201 5/6/2016: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and 5/13/2016: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Brown County YMCA, 105 Willow Street Nashville, IN 47448 5/6/2016: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Van Buren Elementary, 4045 State Road 135 S Nashville, IN 47448 5/13/2016: 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The Greensburg Community Learning Center, 422 East. Central Ave. Greensburg, IN 47240 5/10/2016: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Walmart Greenwood, 1133 N. Emerson Rd. Greenwood, IN 46143 5/7/2016: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Leatherwood Christian Church, 3518 Leatherwood Road Bedford, IN 47421 5/9/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Anytime Fitness, 2643 16th Street Bedford, IN 47421 5/14/2016: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St. Bloomington, IN 47402
5/4/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
5/5/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
5/6/2016: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
5/7/2016: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
5/11/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
5/12/2016: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
5/13/2016: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Hearthstone Health Campus, 3043 North Lintel Drive Bloomington, IN 47404 5/6/2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Springs Valley High School, 356 S. Larry Bird Blvd. French Lick, IN 47432 5/12/2016: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
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.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for- profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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