For National Blood Donor Month, MNT spoke with a super donor, a recipient who was resuscitated thanks to a donation, and the medical director for the American Red Cross to learn more about how blood transfusions save numerous lives. In any given year, approximately 6.8 million people in the United States donate blood to save someone’s life. However, since COVID-19 became a pandemic, blood supplies have run critically low, with the American Red Cross (Red Cross) declaring it was experiencing its worst blood shortage in more than a decade. It also states that, compared with last year, the number of new donors dropped by 34%.
The situation has not been much different around the world either. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) has said blood stocks could drop to “critical” levels over winter this year. Also, in December, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) had to import blood from the NHS, as blood stocks dwindled due to high community transmission of COVID-19. With a unit of blood being needed every 2 seconds, the IBTS says it would need more than 1,000 additional blood donations each day to meet current demand.
Many people, such as organ transplant or cancer patients, those undergoing routine surgical procedures, and people who have been in a car crash, may need multiple units of blood.
“There’s a wide spectrum of patients that require blood transfusions, whether it’s trauma, burn patients, labor and delivery, cardiac surgeries, organ transplants, cancer patients, and individuals with blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease,” said Dr. Baia Lasky, the medical director for the Red Cross.
And as blood products cannot be artificially produced, the only viable source is donors.
Donating blood can be an emotional experience for both the donor and the recipient. Shaun Brennan, who has been giving blood since 1985, describes his donations as “lifesaving accomplishments” and a proud experience. “I’m spiritual, I believe in a higher power. And I believe this is a gift that I was given. [I] think I have a responsibility to share that I’m very healthy,” he told Medical News Today.
Shaun said he hoped his numerous donations would assure people that they can live an “active, happy, healthy, normal lifestyle” while donating lifesaving products.
“I haven’t taken a sick day since November 1985. [D]onating lifesaving blood platelets and plasma has never made me ill. I don’t have any problems with my veins or anything of that nature.
I’m very active. I have a running streak of over almost 9 years of running without missing a day,” he elaborated. Meanwhile, on the other end of many transfusions has been Brian Boyle, who needed dozens of units of blood and plasma after sustaining critical injuries in a car crash. “Giving blood, to me, represent[s] life. When a donor goes to a blood drive and they give blood, they’re not just giving blood [and] time. They’re giving life to a patient in need,” he said.
