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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

NHS students host annual blood drive

Donations across state reach critical levels in winter month shortage

By Daniel Lai, Editor

PUBLISHED: January 31, 2008

The Manchester High School National Honor Society will sponsor its annual blood drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

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"The students have been doing this for a long time and we usually get pretty good results," NHS advisor Greg Smith said.

Smith said the blood drive is one of several community service projects club members host every year.

"Part of being in the National Honor Society involves performing services for the community," he said. "Club members feel this blood drive will help serve not just Manchester, but other areas and hospitals where blood is needed."

Every year since 1970, blood collection organizations across the United States have recognized January as National Blood Donor Month. To help ensure an adequate blood supply, the American Red Cross has joined with blood centers across the country to stress the importance of donating blood.

"January, in particular, can be a difficult month for blood centers to collect blood as inclement weather and the demands of the new year can make it difficult for donors to give," Jeb Caudill, American Red Cross Great Lakes Region spokesman, said. "But the need for blood is constant.

"Nearly all the blood needed by patients in the United States comes from volunteer blood donors."

Caudill said if all eligible donors gave blood on a regular basis — roughly three or four times a year — blood needs could be met and shortages could become a thing of the past.

"In Michigan, the majority of our donors — about 63 percent — give just once a year," he said. "We hope to help donors understand that the key to a stable blood supply is steady and consistent donations from people who want to help save lives."

Smith said blood donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health.

"Both students and community members are welcome to give blood," he said.

Caudill said every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. "Each day, patients across the country receive approximately 39,000 units of this lifesaving resource," he said. "This year alone, as many as 5 million patients will require blood transfusions, as accident victims, people undergoing surgery and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer and other diseases."

Caudill said all blood donations are needed, but the blood type most in demand is Type O, which can be transfused to patients with other blood types and is used in most emergency situations. Also in demand are platelets, used to help treat victims of cancer. Platelets are donated through a process called Apheresis.

In addition to the NHS blood drive, a second blood drive will be held at Klager Elementary School from 2 to 8 p.m. Feb. 21.

For more information call 428-7333.

Editor Daniel Lai can be reached at 428-8173 or dlai@heritage.com.