RGV in dire need of blood donors
Blood drives.
Boooooring. Maybe, but not if your life, or the life of a loved one, is on the line, and the local hospitals have run out of the red stuff. Then you’ll be screaming, “Where is the blood?” If more people donated blood now, though, that scenario should never play out.
Currently, the RGV, especially Hidalgo County, is suffering from one of its worst blood shortages in recent memory, according to reports emanating from the nonprofit, Vitalant, formally named the United Blood Services of McAllen, located on Pecan.
That shortage plays out across the entire U.S.
People just aren’t donating to meet the demand.
The blood-donation facility is located at 1400 S. 6th in McAllen. The phone number is 877-258-4825. If you want to do something nice for your neighbor, or yourself in the case of an accident or emergency surgery, donating blood is the way to go. Painless and quick, plus you get a snack before you leave the place. You get treated like a hero on site, no matter that donating blood was the only thing you did.
As is often the case in Hidalgo County, blood donations are down, according to Vitalant, and unless some kind-hearted people step up nonetheless be well positioned.
As is often the case in Hidalgo County, blood donations are down, according to Vitalant, and unless some kind-hearted people step up to the plate, or the blood bank as the case may be, some patients could see treatment delays at hospitals even if they are facing lifesaving transfusions.
What makes us truly pathetic is, only approximately two percent of Valley residents regularly donate blood. At the national level, the number isn’t that much better: 3 percent.
All Types Needed
All types of blood donors are needed, but especially O Negative, simply because that type is compatible with anyone’s blood type. Hospital ERs can use O Negative on anyone brought through the emergency doors, no matter what blood type they may have, making the task of stocking up on its supply of supreme importance. People who possess "O Negative" blood are known as universal donors. O Positive blood is also on the list of types in high demand.
Donating blood only takes approximately 45 minutes, and despite the stereotypical he-man being the biggest cry baby when it comes to needles, they still don’t hurt. The needles, not the he-men. Just don’t look when the blood tech working on you at Vitalant gets ready to begin the blood-donation process. Once it’s over, at least you’ll feel like you accomplished something useful for your neighbor; useful for your community.
Why don’t more people donate blood, you may ask, especially since the Red Cross estimates that every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood?
There are a number of reasons why people don’t donate blood, including fear of needles, inconvenience, and not feeling well.
However, there are also a number of things that can be done to encourage more people to donate blood, such as educating people about the need for blood donations, making it easier for people to donate blood, and providing incentives for donating blood.
Come on. It’s long past time I donated any. I’ll do it. I hope you do, too.