Show #380 Airing Sunday, 3/25/07
Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman – these superheroes always came through to save the day. Of course, they’re just comic book characters. No one can really leap tall buildings in a single bound. But you can be a real life super hero. Here to explain is David Plate, CEO of the American Red Cross Northern Ohio Blood Services Region, and a super-man, long time donor, Luke Gross.
Question: David, why is blood donation so very important?
Answer: The Northern Ohio Blood Services Region, which Cleveland is a part of, serves 57 hospitals in 19 northeast Ohio counties, and must collect enough blood to support 12,000 transfusions a week in our community.
The need for blood is growing faster than the number of people donating it. Every two seconds in America, someone needs blood. The Red Cross urgently needs more blood donors.
Question: So the need is great. But can our audience, can seniors, donate blood?
Answer: A common myth is that senior citizens are too "old" to donate blood. As long as you meet the other eligibility guidelines, there is no upper age limit.
Guidelines include:
- Weighing at least 110 pounds.
- You may be limited by certain lifestyle choices, such as travel to other countries.
- You must be in general good health. We will not accept you as a donor if we believe that giving blood would be detrimental to your health.
Every time you give blood, you will have a private, confidential meeting with a Red Cross health historian. This person will review your health history, look at any medications you may be taking (bring a list!), and will conduct a mini-physical, looking at your temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and iron level. In fact, donating blood can be good for the health of the donor, since we have alerted prospective donors to possible health problems during this screening.
Another myth is that you cannot donate blood if you have diabetes. You can still donate, as long as you are managing your condition and feel well.
Question: How often can you donate blood?
Answer: You are allowed make a whole blood donation (platelets, red cells, and plasma) once every 56 days. Some people start donating blood when they are 17 years old. Many become regular blood donors over the years and, by the time they are senior citizens, they have helped save an amazing number of lives.
On March 27, we will be inducting a select group of people into the first-of-its-kind Blood Donor Hall of Fame. To be considered, an individual must have made at least 200 blood donations. Therefore, the majority of inductees into the Hall of Fame will be senior citizens.
For example, Luke here recently made his 318th whole blood donation. Since one blood donation may be processed into 3 components to help as many as three people, it is possible that Luke has helped as many as a thousand people through donating blood.
Question: Luke, how did you begin donating blood?
Answer: My older brother had been donating blood for a few years when I turned 18 (then the minimum age for a donor) in 1943. Soon after, he took me down to the Red Cross, then on Huron next to Halle's, and I made my first donation.
Soon after I went into the active Marine Corps. I donated a few times while active, but I don't even count those in my tally. When I got out, I started donating regularly and have done so ever since.
Question: I understand this is a family affair.
Answer: Yes. My brother had arranged for both my parents and my sister to donate blood as well. 2 photos. My son now will donate from time-to-time. When my grandson turned 17, he, my son, and I all donated together. Later on, I donated with my granddaughter, when she turned 17.
Giving blood has become like brushing teeth-part of my routine. When people ask me about it, I point out that it's a way to help others without hurting yourself. To the contrary, I get a mini-check-up each time I donate-six times per year. And it's great if you like cookies!
Question: David, how can our viewers get started donating blood?
Answer: You can visit our website for times and locations of blood drives. Click on blood drives/events, then pick a county. Or you can call our phone number. The information will be up next.
Whether it's your first time, or 318th time, right now you can make a difference. Join the "arm-y" of volunteers who give blood. The American Red Cross wants you! Give a call to learn where you can give the gift of life. My thanks to David Plate and Luke Gross.
