Trauma Awareness Month is this month – a time to educate the public that donated blood, platelets and plasma help save lives in emergency rooms every day.
Right now, platelet donors and blood donors with types O negative and AB blood are especially urged to give
During Trauma Awareness month in May, the American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood or platelets for hospital patients in need. Download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit red-cross-blood-dot-org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to make an appointment.
During Trauma Awareness Month this May, the American Red Cross urges eligible blood and platelet donors to roll up a sleeve and give. A single car accident victim could need as much as 100 units of blood. Your donation can help save the lives of patients at hospitals and trauma centers who depend on blood transfusions. Make your appointment today by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting red-cross-blood-dot-org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS and help save lives.
Help save trauma patient lives by giving blood
Red Cross urges blood and platelet donation during
Trauma Awareness Month
(May 2, 2017) — During Trauma Awareness Month in May, the American Red Cross urges eligible donors to help ensure lifesaving blood is available for patients with traumatic injuries and other serious medical needs by donating blood or platelets.
According to the National Trauma Institute, trauma accounts for approximately 41 million emergency department visits and 2.3 million hospital admissions in the U.S. annually.
“A single car accident victim can need as many as 100 units of blood,” said Nick Gehrig, communications director, Red Cross Blood Services. “In trauma situations, when there’s no time to check a patient’s blood type, emergency personnel reach for type O negative red blood cells and type AB plasma.”
O negative red blood cells and AB plasma can be transfused into any patient, regardless of blood type, making donors with these universal blood types an important part of the Red Cross trauma team. Less than 7 percent of the population has type O negative blood, and only about 4 percent of the population has type AB blood.
Platelets may also be needed to help with clotting in cases of massive bleeding. Because platelets must be transfused within five days of donation, there is a constant – often critical – need to keep up with hospital demand.
“As a trauma surgeon, I know that a readily available blood supply can mean the difference between life and death for patients in the most serious situations,” said Dr. Gregory J. Jurkovich, board chair, National Trauma Institute; fellow, American College of Surgeons; and professor and vice chairman, Department of Surgery, University of California Davis Health. “Blood products can only be provided by generous donors, so I urge you to roll up a sleeve and help save lives.”
In 2014, donated blood helped save Ethan Moser’s life after his personal watercraft collided with the boat carrying his family. He suffered massive blood loss due to a severed femoral artery and other serious injuries. Moser received 160 transfusions of blood and blood products.
While his recovery continues, Moser remains grateful to the generous donors who provided the blood he received. “I’m here simply because there was enough blood available to replenish what I lost,” he said. “You never know when an accident’s going to happen, so please donate today to be sure blood is available for those who will need it.”
Blood and platelet donors of all types are currently needed. Those who come out to donate blood or platelets by May 14 will have a chance to win one of three $1,000 gift card shopping sprees from GiftCertificates.com. Donation appointments can be scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities, May 2 - 31
Bountiful
5/8/2017: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., South Davis Community Hospital, 401 South 400 East
5/18/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Bountiful Stone Creek Stake, 990 North Chapel Drive
5/30/2017: 11 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Intermountain Bountiful, 390 North Main St.
Centerville
5/18/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Centerville Utah North Stake, 1125 North 400 West
5/25/2017: 11 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Chick-fil-A Centerville, 540 North 800 West
Clinton
5/18/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Clinton Utah North Stake, 1800 North 1500 West
Farmington
5/12/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Farmington North Stake, 1885 North Summerwood Dr
Kaysville
5/5/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Kaysville Stake, 1505 Whispering Meadow Lane
Layton
5/2/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/3/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/4/2017: 8 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/5/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/8/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/9/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/10/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/11/2017: 8 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/12/2017: 8 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/12/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/13/2017: 9 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/15/2017: 8 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/16/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/17/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/18/2017: 8 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/18/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Layton East Stake, 1325 E. Cherry Lane
5/18/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Layton Valley View Stake, 1589 E. Gentile
5/19/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/22/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/23/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/24/2017: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/25/2017: 8 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/25/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Layton Northridge Church Street Chapel, 2510 North Church Street
5/26/2017: 8 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/26/2017: 1:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/27/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/30/2017: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Layton Blood Donation Center, 852 W. Hill Field Road, Suite B
5/31/2017: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Layton Hills Mall, 1201 North Hill Field Road
5/31/2017: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Layton Donor Center, 852 W Hill Field Road
North Salt Lake
5/26/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., North Salt Lake Utah Legacy Stake, 954 West 1100 North
Syracuse
5/4/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Syracuse South Stake, 3065 South Bluff Road
West Point
5/4/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., West Point Utah Stake, 2865 West 800 North
North Ogden
5/3/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m., ARW Engineers, 1594 West Park Circle
Ogden
5/6/2017: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Chick-Fil-A Ogden, 1120 Washington Blvd
5/9/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Ogden Utah Stake, 1050 21st Street
5/10/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Ogden East Stake, 1314 27th Street
5/18/2017: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kubex Fitness - Ogden, 1186 Harrison Blvd
5/22/2017: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., American Red Cross Northern Utah Chapter, 2955 S. Harrison Blvd.
Riverdale
5/17/2017: 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Riverdale Utah Stake, 1056 West 4400 South
Roy
5/19/2017: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Roy Utah Central Stake Center, 4900 South 2000 West
West Haven
5/19/2017: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Regal Country Building, 3939 West 4000 South
Volunteers needed
Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information and to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position, visit rdcrss.org/driver.
How to help
Eligible donors can learn more, find a donation opportunity and schedule an appointment by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can save time at their donation appointment by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
