The American Red Cross program at BYU is encouraging students to donate blood to save the lives of others in need during January — National Blood Donor Month.
The American Red Cross, a national nonprofit that supplies about 40 percent of donated blood in the U.S., said someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets every two seconds. Since blood cannot be manufactured, the only way to supply blood is through donors.
“The chances are, most of us will need blood or a family member will need blood in our lifetime,” Ashley Lovell, lead program director for BYU Red Cross Services, said. “It's a constant need, and a lot of times, there's a shortage that needs to be supplied.”
According to the American Red Cross, there is currently an emergency shortage of platelets, O negative and B negative blood due to severe winter weather and wildfires. The organization is urging individuals to donate because of this.
“There's always a low amount of (blood) to go around in hospitals and clinics and stuff just because of supply and demand,” Carrleigh Campbell, another BYU Red Cross program director, said. “Most people aren’t willing to donate, or even if they are, sometimes people need a lot more than just the amount that people donate.”
Campbell also mentioned hospitals’ needs for enough blood from donors of multiple blood types.
According to the American Red Cross, blood can only be transfused to others with the same blood type or a type with fewer antigens. For example, individuals with O blood can only receive donated O blood, while those with AB blood can receive blood from almost anyone; however, O blood donors can donate to almost anyone. Students can learn what blood types their blood can be donated to on the American Red Cross website.
The blood drives at BYU offer both whole blood and Power Red donations, according to the Red Cross.
The American Red Cross said whole blood donations collect all cells and platelets in the blood, and each blood component can be separated to help multiple patients. The Red Cross invites individuals with any blood type to donate whole blood which can be used to help trauma patients and individuals in surgery.
Nicholas Thompson, the BYU Red Cross communications program director, said whole blood can only be stored for about a month after the donation.
Power Red donations only collect red blood cells, however, and return any other blood components back to the donor, according to the American Red Cross. The Red Cross invites individuals with O negative, O positive, A negative or B negative blood to participate in a Power Red donation which can be used to help newborns and people with sickle cell anemia.
Thompson said donated blood is often used to benefit those in need within the week of the donation.
“It's something that's so selfless, and it's something that I think Jesus Christ would do,” Lovell said. “Our bodies just naturally make blood if we're healthy and well and can donate. You can be saving someone's life by literally just giving something that you just made on accident.”
Lovell said some who donate blood regularly have also shown a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and experienced other health benefits.
“We’re always talking about how we're supposed to go forth and serve the rest of the world. We're supposed to be leading by example,” Campbell said. “At the end of the day, (a blood donation) could save someone's life who desperately needs it.”
BYU will be hosting more blood drives in the Wilkinson Student Center throughout the winter semester. The next three will take place on Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in room 3250/53 each day. Thompson said these blood drives also offer snacks and can act as a break in your day.
“As BYU students, we’re young, we're healthy, we're able to donate,” Thompson said. “Every time an individual comes in, there's no question that your blood is going to make an impact.”
He said blood donation appointments should only take around 30 minutes. Interested donors can make an appointment on the American Red Cross website for either blood or Power Red donations.