LAKE COUNTY — The thought of donating blood may conjure images of needles, which, according to Public Relations Specialist for Blood Bank of the Redwoods Scott Ferguson, is one of the biggest deterrents to the much-needed venture.
Blood donation in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties has been in the spotlight recently, with recent and upcoming plans to draw attention to the need by the Santa Rosa blood center.
Blood Bank of the Redwoods (BBR) conducted a “Pint for a Pint” incentive program in August, giving coupons for a free pint of ice cream to donors.
The program”s intention was to boost donation during the summer months, which are typically a slow time for collection. BBR collaborated with Baskin-Robbins to provide donors with coupons for a free pint of ice cream at any of the eight Baskin-Robbins locations in the tri-county area, including one in Lakeport.
The effort apparently paid off, according to Ferguson. “It went very well,” he said. “It was well received; it was hot and ice cream was a perfect little incentive for people to come give blood.”
Ferguson confirmed recently that BBR”s summer efforts did help the center keep up with demand despite the usual summer falloff. “What happens is schools are let out, and a significant amount of blood donation comes from high school students. There is a small percentage of adult donors, and when they go on vacation, donation suffers,” he said.
In fact, BBR CEO Cathy Bryan confirmed that in the 2005-06 school year, 12-percent of blood donated came from high school students.
BBR was also at the Kelseyville Pear Festival on Saturday. Bob and Betty the blood drops were a hit in the parade, passing out goodies to kids as they went. The blood bank”s big blue coach was also set up among the other booths at the festival to accommodate anyone wishing to donate.
The Santa Rosa center is the primary blood bank serving the tri-county area, serving the area since 1951. The center provides much-needed blood to 10 hospitals in the area. Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport derives its supply from BBR, using donated blood for cancer patients, blood transfusions and surgeries, among other things.
The demand in Lake County is traditionally higher than the supply. In 2004, BBR collected 1,418 units (pints) of blood from Lake County, and supplied a total of 1,819 units back to the county based on demand. In 2005, it collected 1,704 units and supplied 1,847 back to Lake County, constituting a significant increase in blood donation.
“To keep up with health care in any county is going to be a challenge for the future for all of the blood industry, because more people are reaching baby boomer age,” said BBR CEO Cathy Bryan.
According to Assemblywoman Patty Berg”s recently released “Aging Agenda for the 21st Century,” California”s elder population will increase from one in 10 residents to one in seven residents within the next twenty years.
“So it will always be important to keep up with the growing needs of blood centers,” said Bryan. “It will always be difficult to meet the demand for the blood supply. This is a continuing and growing need every single day.”
Bryan said in order to keep up with demand, the center must collect 130 pints of blood each day. “To keep pace with the patients, we need very active donors. We”re going to keep working at growing the number of donors in our community to meet the growing demand,” said Bryan.
The blood is sent to BBR”s processing lab, one of four in California, to be tested for safety and broken down into components.
Gary Rogers, Lab Director for Redbud Community Hospital (supplied by Blood Centers of the Pacific in San Diego) pointed out that component therapy is often what is needed, making it possible to “transfuse what the patient needs: white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, FFP (fresh frozen plasma).”
Rogers explained that donated blood is used for a myriad of patient needs, including trauma suffered from car accidents, gunshots, stabbings and cancer, among others.
Ferguson pointed to statistics at BBR”s Web site, containing information regarding the demand for donated blood and how the blood is used.
According to BBR”s statistics, O negative is in the greatest demand, as it can be given to patients regardless of their blood type.
Out of the 60 percent of the national population that is eligible to donate blood, only five percent do.
BBR goes into the community every day to collect blood, said Ferguson, using its coach and mobile triage units to go to local businesses, high schools and colleges. Blood drives around the area are held almost every week.
Ferguson said 75 percent of the center”s blood donation comes from these outreaches into the community.
Speaking to an all-too-common fear of needles that may go hand in hand with thoughts of donating blood, Ferguson said in his experience the reward outweighs the fear. “It just gets in people”s heads that it will hurt; maybe it”s the unknown. More times than not, when they”re done, they”re surprised how little it hurt and how easy it is. You talk to a nurse and you get pumped up, lik ”I”m doing something good here, saving some lives.” It feels good to give.”
More information is available at www.bbr.org.
