Guest View: Want to serve the community? Donate blood
A young man battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. An elderly woman taking blood thinners to prevent a stroke who starts losing blood from her stomach. A child bleeding internally after being hit by a car. These are just a few examples of lives saved by emergency blood transfusions.
As emergency physicians, my colleagues and I order blood frequently without questioning whether this life-saving resource will always be there for us to use. However, blood donations have declined in the COVID-19 pandemic and Lane County is experiencing a severe blood shortage. In greatest demand is O-positive blood, which is given to patients more than any other blood type.
I started donating blood in high school but between having kids and traveling, I had gotten out of the loop. After receiving several emails at work about the need to conserve blood products I decided it was time to rejoin the donor pool.
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I reached out to Bloodworks Northwest, an independent nonprofit organization that supplies blood to 95% of hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. Making an appointment online was quick and easy. The check-in questions can also be completed online. When I arrived at the main Eugene center for my appointment, I was quickly taken back to a room to finish the screening questions and check iron levels before moving on to the donation room. The large room was open and airy with many ceiling fans. Comfortable recliners were spaced around the room at least 6 feet apart. Every friendly face was wearing a mask, and everything was clean and sanitized following COVID-19 protocols.
I sat between a sweet older couple who had been coming together to donate for years and were cracking jokes back and forth with the staff. As I lamented about the difficulty of scheduling time to donate when you have young kids, the phlebotomist shared memories of pre-COVID-19 times when kids often played next to the donation room. Some of those kids who grew up watching their parents donate now were coming in with their parents as donors themselves. Unfortunately, many of those who have donated on a regular basis are getting older and are no longer able to donate.
More: Lane County facing blood supply shortage, PeaceHealth requesting donations
The blood donation itself only took about 10 minutes and after setting up my next donation appointment and a brief stop for a cookie and juice I was on my way again.
Every unit donated can be a life saved and blood banks have a daily need for new donors. To schedule an appointment, visit Bloodworks Northwest or call 800-398-7888. In addition to the donation center at 2211 Willamette St. in Eugene, Bloodworks Northwest operates numerous pop-up sites throughout the Eugene-Springfield area and other parts of Lane County. These are in locations large enough to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines for social distancing. Several are scheduled this month at hotels in Springfield’s Gateway area. At the Bloodworks Northwest website, you can search for the donation location nearest you.
Encourage your family and friends to donate and if you are eligible set up an appointment yourself. We have a critical need for blood donations in Lane County. Just one small act can have a life-saving impact.
Dr. Margaret Pattison is the medical director of the Emergency Department at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.
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This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Guest View: Want to serve the community? Donate blood
