CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — Hospitals always need blood, but the holidays typically increase the need for blood donations.
Healthcare workers and organizations are pushing for people in the community to donate blood during the holidays to ensure there is enough supply. Officials say blood donations are typically lower around the holidays because of busy schedules, travel, school breaks and winter illnesses.
“Obviously, with the cold season comes the flu, the colds, people get more sick, and so we do see a drop in the number of people able or willing to donate during this time, which does make a direct impact on our blood donations,” Scott Brown, regional donor services executive of the American Red Cross South Carolina, says.
Historically, blood donor turnout drops around the holidays. Both the Red Cross and Medical University of South Carolina are urging people to become a lifeline that patients need this holiday season, since there is always a constant demand for blood supply.
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets, and one donation can help save more than one life, according to the Red Cross.
Diann Krywko is the chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at MUSC and says the MUSC Charleston division uses about 70,000 blood products a year to treat complicated patients, trauma, burns, childbirth complications and ordinary procedures.
“Blood donations during the holidays are very crucial because patient needs don’t stop, but donations often drop significantly by about 20%,” Krywko says. “Donating one unit of blood actually contains red blood cells, platelets and plasma, and donating that can help up to two to three, sometimes four people.”
The time it takes for a blood donation can vary depending on the donor and the type of blood that is being given, ranging from 15 minutes for a general blood donation to up to four hours for platelets.
“If we take a moment out of our busy lives and reflect on, you know, our own personal friends and family, our own network, most of us can think of at least one or two individuals that have needed blood at one point or another,” Brown says.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Charleston:
- Dec. 24: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
- Dec. 26: 8 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
- Dec. 27: 8 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
- Dec. 28: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
- Dec. 29: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Five Eighth Seams, 1888 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd.
- Dec. 30: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
- Dec. 31: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
On Christmas Eve, the West Ashley location saw about 15 donations, and officials there say they hope the community continues to come out and give back.
“It’s a challenge each and every year to find organizations out in the community willing to host a blood drive during this time,” Brown says. “And then those few that are willing to host, it is extra difficult to get people to take a break from their holiday plans and spend an hour donating blood, so we really appreciate those that are willing to work with us during this time of year and help maintain that blood supply during this critical time.”
You can schedule a blood or platelet donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
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