Area blood drives need support

Flu hurts blood supplies         

[MARCH 2, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Many people in central Illinois have been experiencing colds and flu during the past few weeks, and the local blood supply is suffering. Blood donations are accepted only if people are healthy. And even after getting over the symptoms of a cold or flu, the would-be donors are deferred from donating for another four weeks. Consequently, blood donations are down 10 percent for the month of February. To help area hospitals, blood drives have been scheduled in Mount Pulaski, Lincoln and Emden.

A blood drive will be held on Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mount Pulaski High School. The community is asked to help by donating blood at the school.

A blood drive in Lincoln will be on Monday from noon to 6 p.m. at the Logan County Paramedic Association building, 1300 N. Postville Drive.

A blood drive in Emden will be on March 14 from 2 to 6 p.m. at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, 120 Market St.

The Central Illinois Community Blood Center is asking citizens from throughout the area to roll up their sleeves and help restock hospital blood supplies. While there is no current blood shortage, the February decline of 10 percent is significant and the blood center is working hard to keep blood supplies adequate.

Existing donors can give every two months, up to six times per year.

"There are a certain number of donors who have been inactive and haven't donated in a year or two, and we need them back," according to David Parsons, chief executive officer of the Central Illinois Community Blood Center in Springfield. "Since only about 5 percent of the U.S. population donates blood, many more people are eligible to donate, and we ask them to come forward as first-time blood donors and help protect their families and their community."

Most people assume that hospitals will always have the blood they need for cancer patients, children with leukemia, surgical and burn patients, trauma victims, and others. But hospitals get their blood from citizens who take the time to help by donating blood.

"Many people respond when there is a tragedy, like the event of Sept. 11 and the recent tsunami," Parsons said. "However, to the thousands of people in central Illinois hospitals every year, blood transfusions are the difference between life and death."

One reason for the relatively low percentage of blood donors in the population may be the hectic schedules of today's families. Taking time to donate blood, being a member of a civic group and volunteering for other activities may be symptomatic of a change in society.

Unfortunately, blood is not an optional commodity. People need blood transfusions to stay alive, and it comes only from people who are able and willing to take the time to donate.

It takes only an hour, but the benefits last a lifetime. The time in the blood donation chair is only about 10 minutes.

To make blood donations more enjoyable, donors are asked to bring a friend. Donating together with a friend or relative is a tremendous experience.

Besides the local blood drives, people can donate by visiting the Central Illinois Community Blood Center at its donor room, located at 1134 S. Seventh St. in Springfield. Hours there are Monday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 7 a.m.-6 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Organizations are encouraged to sponsor blood drives at their buildings as an easy way for their employees to do their part to protect the community.

For more information about donating blood or sponsoring a blood drive, please call the Central Illinois Community Blood Center toll-free at (866) GIVE BLD [1 [phone]] or [phone]. For information about blood drives, blood facts, blood types and other information, please check www.cicbc.org.

[Central Illinois Community Blood Center news release]