Blood gifts critical at holidays

It still feels like Christmas to Opal Amos of Jacksonville. Thursday, she was still giving.

But this gift is different from the ones she doled out on Monday. Thursday, she gave life.

Joy Branham, executive director of the Onslow County Chapter of the American Red Cross, likes to remind blood donors of just that. Each person can donate around a pint of blood, which could help up to three people.

“Consider that the blood you donate today isn’t used for about four days, which could save your life or that of a family member,” Branham said. “It is essential to supply our hospitals with blood during the holiday season too. Around the holidays, it is in high demand due to more car accidents.”

But despite demand, the supply this time of year is regularly low — and the Red Cross is in desperate need of donations. In the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Red Cross, which includes eastern North Carolina and central and eastern Virginia, the organization has merely a day’s supply of two blood types, O-negative and B-negative, Branham said. There is only a one to three-day supply remaining of A-negative, AB-negative, O-positive and B-positive.

“People get busy during the holidays with shopping and visiting and forget we’re in need,” Branham said. “We just hope people will respond to the need.”

The Jacksonville Fire Department sponsored a blood drive Thursday evening in hopes of collecting 30 units of blood to help with the shortage. Ten minutes into the drive, six people sat waiting their turn to give. Among those was Amos, who gives blood three to four times each year, especially around the holidays.

“I’ve never needed blood, nor has my family, but I know the great need,” she said. “I feel like it’s a small way of doing my part. I’m glad to do it because I know should anyone in my family ever need it I would hope people took the time to provide assistance.”

Amos, who has an O-positive blood type knows the need, and for that type specifically. According to Red Cross statistics, someone in America needs blood every two seconds — that’s 38,000 units of red blood cells per day.

“I’m able to give, so I think it’s important because so many people aren’t able,” Amos said.

Around 5 percent of the general population donates blood, despite 50 percent being eligible. To give blood, donors need to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.

“I’m giving because there is always the critical need for blood — the main thing this time of year is when there is extra need for many tragic accidents to be able to help people,” said Lynn Thomas, who gives blood as often as allowed — every 56 days. “We also have the additional incentive in our wellness program while working for the city of Jacksonville.”

Five blood drives are planned for January, National Blood Donor Month. The next one will be held Tuesday at Trinity United Methodist Church on Marine Boulevard from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information on giving blood, call the Onslow County Chapter of the American Red Cross at 347-3581.

Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.