Bled Dry

Buying books, last minute registration and battling snowstorms are some of the things that might be on the mind of the average UB student upon returning for a new semester of classes - the thought of blood donation most likely is not.

According to the American Red Cross, young people should be consistently jotting blood donation onto their to-do lists.

"There is a definite need for younger blood donors," said Andrea Holland, a communication specialist for the American Red Cross. "A lot of blood donors are of the older population, World War II people who gave blood as a civic duty. Younger people might not think about it, its not as breakthrough as it used to be. A lot of people just consider (the blood supply) an infinite source."

But "an infinite source" it is not, as is made evident by blood centers' appeal to potential donors to help combat the national decline in the blood supply.

"If blood supplies do not immediately increase, patients, accident victims and those whose lives depend on regular transfusions, are at risk for not getting the blood they need," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said in a Jan. 13 publication on CNN.com.

Though even the slightest decline in the life saving fluid is cause for concern, representatives of the American Red Cross said it is not uncommon for the blood supply to dip noticeably around certain times of year.

According to Holland, the national blood source has a consistent decline in the summer and at a certain point in the winter. Summer donors are lured away by vacations abroad while adverse weather and holiday season has an effect on winter donations.

This season the call for blood has come at a time when people should be most conscious of the need to donate, as Holland points out that January is national blood donor month.

Malik Sollas, a junior majoring in social science and interdisciplinary early childhood development, said he was not aware that the blood supply was in such dire need of replenishing.

"I give blood whenever I see a sign in school. Maybe if people were aware they would be more inclined to give blood," he said. "When I was told that the World Trade Center victims needed blood I definitely volunteered."

Though times of national tragedy might strengthen the resolve of those who are healthy and able to offer assistance to those in need, Holland reminds potential donors that the blood supply does not regenerate on its own.

"Blood is such a fundamental part of medical care it is just assumed that it will always be there," said Holland. "We rely on people to donate."

Medical care does in fact rely heavily on a steady blood supply, as Karen Davis, blood bank supervisor at Erie County Medical Center, outlined the medical procedures performed daily that require blood transfusions.

"We're a major trauma center we get a lot of cases where blood is needed...we do open-heart surgery... we have a major burn treatment area."

According to Davis, if the blood supply continues to decline, steps will have to be taken to ensure that those in immediate need are able to be adequately cared for. In this situation other procedures, such as elective surgery - though they might be highly necessary for the patient's well being - will have to be postponed until the supply is replenished.

The fact that blood has a shelf life of 42 days coupled with hospitals' constant need for material for transfusions create the national blood banks' consistent demand for donors.

"Blood banks are not doing well...not just Red Cross," said Holland who went on to encourage individuals to donate.

"Consider the need (for blood) and consider how you can help other people, you can actually save a life," she said. "It takes an hour of your time, it's very simple, when you see the blood drive go ahead and donate."