According to the American Red Cross (ARC), “Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood is essential to help patients survive surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. This lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation.” Answering that call to provide lifesaving blood, Bristowans donated blood Tuesday, May 30, at the First Baptist Church.
ARC Account Manager for Blood Services Region of the Oklahoma District Debbie Jacobs provided Bristow blood drive information. She stated that thirty-four people presented themselves for blood
See Locals, Page Three donation. Of those thirty-four individuals, only two were deferred. Another two individuals were unable to donate enough blood for collection. The remaining thirty donors donated enough blood to exceed the drive’s collection goals.
For the Bristow May blood drive, the ARC set a collection goal of twenty-one whole blood units and twenty-four power red units. Whole blood donations contain all components of blood. Power red donations differ from whole blood because they consist entirely of red blood cells. Power red donations are achieved through the use of special machines which separate and process donor blood, setting aside red blood cells and returning other blood components to donors at the time of donation. During the drive, donors donated a total of thirty whole blood units and thirty-four power red units.
For its part, the American Red Cross brought six collections staff members to the drive. Two Bristowans volunteered during the drive as well: Norma Hallman and Vicki Clark.
Bristowans Leann Adkins and husband Bill donated at the drive. She wanted to donate, persuading Bill to donate with her, and the two shared a bit of fun, joking with each other about their donations. She said, “I was so happy to get to donate at the blood drive! I haven't donated since I was young because I got very lightheaded the last time I did. If I'm honest, I probably went to donate on an empty stomach. I told my husband, regardless, if someone I loved needed that blood, I wouldn't allow getting a little lightheaded to prevent me from donating. I asked him if he would go with me, and he said ‘sure’ that he has no problem donating and really should, too, because he is a universal donor. Then once he found out he could donate double (power red), he made it into a competition and told me he could help six people with his donation while I could only help three. I told him I'm actually claiming credit for helping nine because if I hadn't donated, he wouldn't have donated! We had some fun with that. I would encourage everyone to go donate and take some friends. There’s always a need for blood! It's a simple and free way to help others.”
Those interested in donating will have three additional donation opportunities at the First Baptist Church drives this year. Those drives will occur on August 1, October 3, November 28.