The agency has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, and is urging all eligible donors to give.
“A lot of our regular donors are traveling and our corporate sponsors are not holding blood drives as well due to the holiday,” said Christy Peters, spokesman for the Western Lake Erie blood services region for the Red Cross.
The Northwest Ohio Red Cross has to collect 300 units of blood per day to keep up with normal demand for the 24 hospitals in the 11-county region, said Jennifer Hughes, account manager for the local Red Cross.
“Forty percent of our blood supply comes from high schools and colleges and with the students being gone for the summer we rely on our businesses, organizations, and others even more than ever,” Hughes said.
Toledo Firefighters Local 92 hosted a blood drive Tuesday, downtown in the Roost, inside the Hensville complex. There was steady stream of walk-ins and Hughes was pleased with the turnout.
The Lucas County Sheriff’s Office is also hosting a drive today at the 911 Training Center, 2127 Jefferson Ave., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hughes said she can always count on the rescue workers, police, and the sheriff’s office to pitch in during a time of need. They see traumas every day and understand the need for regular donations, she said.
The agency can also count on their long-time donors such as married couple Ken and Julie Peace, who donate three to four times a year.
They came Tuesday to donate because they were notified about the critical need right now, said Mr. Peace, 59, who works at ProMedica Toledo Hospital.
“We try to come when they need us,” he said.
Mrs. Peace, 61, said she has been donating blood for 40 years. The first time she gave blood she fainted, but that didn’t deter the retired elementary school teacher. The first time it was hot, there was no air conditioning, and she was nervous. Now it’s part of a ritual they do together.
While the number of donors typically decreases during the summer months, the demand for blood at hospitals often increases. People are more active when the weather is warmer.
“Hospitals want to be prepared and we want to make sure we have blood on the shelf for an emergency that can happen at any time,” Peters said.
Blood donations given in the Toledo area will supply local needs first, but “if there was a need somewhere else we can move blood across the country,” she said.
It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to donate, and one donation serves three needs, said Hughes.
The whole blood unit includes red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Red blood cells would typically go to someone involved in a trauma or planned surgical procedure.
Platelets typically go to someone receiving chemotherapy treatments for cancer, and plasma is typically used for burn patients.
Several blood drives will be held throughout the area over the next two weeks. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org for more dates, times and locations.
Contact Marlene Harris-Taylor at: mtaylor@theblade.com, 419-724-6091, or on Twitter @marlenetaylor48.
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