Urgent need for blood, drives at Poplar Bluff and Dexter

Area citizens, especially new donors, are encouraged to roll up their sleeves this weekend to help save the lives of friends, family and even strangers by donating blood.

“What’s a better feeling than helping save lives,” American Red Cross Donor Recruitment Representative Tara Lincoln said. “You’re actually making an impact and being a superhero and saving lives.”

The Red Cross is hosting a blood drive from 1:30-6:30 p.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff. Donors will have a second chance to give the gift of life at the church from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Dexter residents can stop by Harry Blackwell Dodge from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday to donate blood.

Everyone who attempts to donate will receive a $3 Subway gift card and specially designed Red Cross T-shirt while supplies last.

Donors must be at least 17 years old to give blood and have a form of identification or donor card. To donate at 16 years old, a parent or legal guardian consent form is required.

Donors are eligible to give blood every 56 days, but are encouraged to wait if they are under the weather.

In the past, Lincoln said people with high blood pressure or diabetes could not donate, which is not true.

“As long as you are under the care of a doctor and it’s under control, you are eligible to donate,” she said.

Cancer also does not prevent people from donating blood, unless they have been diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma, which deal directly with blood.

Appointments can be made online by visiting the Red Cross website or smartphone app to reduce wait time. Donors may also apply for a rapid pass during the day they plan to donate at redcrossblood.org/rapid pass.

“If you make an appointment or get a rapid pass you will save 15 to 20 minutes at the drive,” Lincoln said.

The entire process, according to Lincoln, takes about an hour and the needle is only in a person’s arm for 5-10 minutes.

To give an insight as to how donating blood feels, Lincoln often tells younger children to pinch the inside of their elbow for about 10 seconds.

Once the 10 seconds are over, she said people are able to sit back and relax until time for juice and cookies.

“It’s really a simple process,” she said. “I think a lot of people are more afraid of the unknown and what’s going to happen or how they will feel.”

As long as donors eat a healthy meal within a couple hours prior to donating and drink plenty of fluids, they shouldn’t expect an issues, such as passing out.

“Our staff is completely trained and capable of taking care of you,” Lincoln assured.

The Red Cross has an urgent need for blood, especially during the winter months, with the holidays and people taking vacations, Lincoln said.

An emergency need appeal for blood was hit in November due to the hurricanes and wildfires in the U.S. earlier in the fall.

“We didn’t necessarily need blood because of the disasters, but they weren’t able to host blood drives in those areas,” Lincoln said.

She went on to say donated blood has a shelf life of 42 days and when it’s not being replaced an emergency need develops.

Once donated, blood must be tested to ensure it’s safe for a patient to receive. It must be tested, processed and then sent back to where it needs to be administered.

With the turnaround time of testing and processing blood, it’s important people do not wait until emergencies to donate.

“What if a friend or loved one doesn’t have 24 to 48 hours for you to donate blood,” Lincoln said. “Blood has to be readily available on the shelf to use.”

Lincoln reminds blood is not only used in emergency situations, but also for cancer patients receiving treatments, people with blood diseases or women who experience complications during pregnancy.

“You never know who it’s going to be or when it’s going to be needed,” she said. “That’s why it’s so important to have that blood supply.”