Valuable donations

It’s a simple thing, easily given. And like so many simple things in life, it means a great deal to the recipient.

Often, it means life itself.

Because it is broken down into components, one donation of blood can potentially save three lives.

Donating blood is always a good intention, but not often enough a habit.

“Because of vacations and the holidays, donations are down this time of year,” said Michelle Tandara, donor recruitment director for the Inland Northwest Blood Center. “At the same time, the need for blood is actually higher. Because they have the time off, people will plan elective surgeries for this time of year. And there are always emergencies.”

INBC’s mobile blood center spends Monday afternoons, from 2 to 6 p.m., at Valley Hospital and Medical Center, 12606 E. Mission Ave. As part of its holiday blood drive, it will be there Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

“During the holiday drive every donor receives a specially designed T-shirt,” Tandara said. “They also are entered to win a one-week stay at a condominium or a weekend stay at the Davenport.”

It’s been estimated that someone in this country needs blood or a blood product every three seconds. It’s also been estimated that one in three people will need blood or a blood product at some point during their life.

That’s a lot of blood.

The Inland Northwest Blood Center needs about 150 whole blood donors every day in order to meet the needs of area patients – more than a million of them at more than 30 hospitals and medical facilities in the INBC service area, which extends 150 miles from Spokane in all directions.

Statistically, 60 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, but only about five percent actually does.

“Unfortunately, most people only think about donating blood when something happens to one of their family members or a close friend,” Tandara said.

The majority of the population is Blood Type O, the universal donor blood type.

“It’s the type we need the most, but we need all types,” Tandara said. “It’s always better for people to receive their own specific type instead of getting Type O blood.”

The need for blood is constant, and the products themselves are perishable. Red blood cells, for example, have a shelf life of 42 days. Platelets, on the other hand, last just a week while plasma can be frozen and used up to a year later.

Fortunately, blood donors can give on a regular basis. Whole blood donations can be made every 56 days.

An apheresis donation, a special kind of donation to give specific blood components (platelets and plasma) can be made more frequently – every two weeks is recommended. Donors can give up to 24 times per year.

“We’re not able to take those kinds of donations at our mobile blood centers,” Tandara said. “Those can only be made at our centers in Spokane or in Coeur d’Alene.”

The need for platelets is especially high for patients undergoing chemotherapy.