Jeanes library to hold Red Cross blood drive

On Monday, April 30, Red Cross blood drive at the library from 2 to 7 p.m.

One of the goals of the William Jeanes Memorial Library, and all libraries, is to serve as a connection between people and their needs. Sometimes it’s as simple as helping someone find the right book. Other times, like in our Come Play With Me workshops for parents or guardians and their very young kids, it’s to give those adults a chance to speak with specialists in early childhood development while the kids have a chance to play with an amazing assortment of toys. And in the case of the upcoming Monday, April 30, Red Cross blood drive at the library from 2 to 7 p.m., it’s about helping an organization find the willing, everyday heroes in our community.

With that in mind, here are some statistics about blood donation in the United States, cited directly from the Red Cross’s website at redcrossblood.org/ learn-about-blood/bloodfacts-and-statistics:

• Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.

• Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S.

• Nearly 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.

• Nearly 21 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.

• The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.

• It is estimated that sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives.

• According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.69 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2017. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.

• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

• 13.6 million whole blood and red blood cell units are collected in the U.S. in a year.

• 6.8 million donors give blood in the U.S. in a year.

• Although an estimated 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood at any given time, less than 10 percent of that eligible population actually do each year.

• Blood cannot be manufactured; it can only come from generous donors.

• Type O negative blood (red cells) can be transfused to patients of all blood types. It is always in great demand and often in short supply.

• Type AB positive plasma can be transfused to patients of all other blood types. AB plasma is also usually in short supply.

• The average adult has about 10 pints of blood in his body. Roughly 1 pint is given during a donation.

• A single donation can potentially help more than one patient.

• Donors can give either whole blood or specific blood components only. The process of donating specific blood components — red cells, plasma or platelets — is called apheresis.

• Most donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection.

• Donated platelets must be used within five days of collection; new donations are constantly needed.

• Plasma and cryoprecipitate are stored in frozen state and can be used for up to one year after collection.

• Healthy bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells, plasma and platelets. The body will replenish the elements given during a blood donation — some in a matter of hours and others in a matter of weeks.

This blood drive is a joint event between William Jeanes Memorial Library and the Conshohocken Plymouth Whitemarsh Rotary — thanks to them for the initial idea for last fall’s blood drive and their continued support and volunteering at the drive checkin tables. We are currently accepting registrations for willing donors of all blood types. If you are ready to help the millions in need of blood, either by donating or volunteering your time, call me or email me at 610-8280441 ext. 103 or by email at acole@mclinc.org.

Adam Gilbert-Cole is the adult services and reference librarian at the William Jeanes Memorial Library and Nicholas and Athena Karabots Center for Learning, located at 4051 Joshua Road in Lafayette Hill. Visit the library’s website at jeaneslibrary.org.