As I look forward to a new year approaching, I reflect on this past year giving thanks for many blessings of good health and taking note that January is National Blood Donor Month. Most people wouldn’t consider this important unless the need for a transfusion or blood products has touched them personally. I can remember my father giving blood regularly and occasionally being summoned to the hospital for an emergency donation for someone who needed his blood type. Once it was to transfuse an infant, another time a young person who was involved in a serious automobile accident. I can remember the urgency of those phone calls.

The need for blood is always present. Did you know that every three seconds someone is in need of blood? Every minute patients use more than 36 units of blood or blood products. Each day, 40,000 units of blood are used in this country. The demand for blood is great and our nations supply needs constant replenishment. It is estimated that 8 million people donate blood in the United States each year.

Who can donate blood? A donor must be healthy and at least 17 years of age. Persons 65 or older and in good health may also donate with the approval of the blood bank physician. A person weighing at least 110 pounds can donate a unit of blood as often as every 8 weeks.

The procedure is simple. A record of the persons name, address and medical history is taken and their identity is verified. Educational materials are provided that describe diseases that can be spread by transfusion. They are then asked about any travel outside of the United States and/or events that could indicate a possible infection that could be transmitted during transfusions. Next, temperature, pulse, blood pressure and weight are recorded and a small amount of blood is taken from the prospective donor’s finger to measure the amount of red blood cells and hemoglobin present.

Providing that all of the information and testing is satisfactory, the donor is then escorted to the donation area where trained personnel will clean and swab the site where the needle will be inserted with an antiseptic solution. Then, using new and sterile needles and collection equipment, the blood is collected. The procedure usually takes less than 10 minutes. After the donation is completed, a snack of juice, crackers or cookies is served to supply the donor with quick energy.

It is important to obtain a recent and accurate medical history from any prospective donor. It protects not only the donor but also the person who will receive the blood. Many safeguards are imposed on the blood from donors before it can be used for a transfusion. The blood is typed and seven separate screening tests are used to check for possible infections from hepatitis, AIDS,

HTLV and syphilis. A sample of the blood is then tested against the blood of the recipient - a process called cross-matching.

If you are contemplating elective surgery, planning ahead with your physician can help to determine if you are likely to need blood. You can donate blood for yourself - a procedure known as autologous blood transfusion. After a thorough screening, blood bank personnel will consult with your physician to determine if your medical condition will allow you to donate blood safely for yourself. In many cases, autologous blood will meet your needs, however, should you not use all of your donated blood during your hospitalization, your blood may be used by another patient - depending on the hospital policy. You can usually make a donation every 3-4 days up to three days before your surgery, but each autologous donation takes from one to two hours.

Still need some good reasons to become a donor? Consider these

1. Giving blood is safe. It is not possible to catch any disease by giving blood.

2. Giving Blood is easy. Registration, a simple medical history questionnaire, a mini-physical, then you roll up your sleeve - a brief pinch and 5-8 minutes later, the donation is over.

3. Giving blood is fast. The entire life-saving process takes less than one hour.

4. Giving blood saves lives. Because blood donations are processed into a variety of blood components, each donation can save the lives of as many as four people.

5. Giving blood could save your life. Your free mini-physical checks for anemia, temperature, pulse rate and blood pressure.

Blood centers often run short of Blood types O and B because they are in such great demand. Consider giving the gift of life this year. Call your local hospital:

in Holyoke - Holyoke Hospital 534-2591

in Northampton - Cooley Dickinson Hospital 582-2185