{"id":37802,"date":"2013-07-18T08:00:43","date_gmt":"2013-07-18T12:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=37802"},"modified":"2020-12-06T16:26:00","modified_gmt":"2020-12-06T21:26:00","slug":"be-twice-the-hero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2013\/07\/18\/be-twice-the-hero\/","title":{"rendered":"American Red Cross encourages donors to be twice the hero"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"American<\/p>\n

News release from the American Red Cross:<\/p>\n

American Red Cross Encourages Donors to be Twice the Hero<\/strong><\/p>\n

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(July 16, 2013) – You can be twice the hero to people in need this summer by donating the double red cell way through the American Red Cross.<\/p>\n

A double red cell donation involves giving two units of red cells through an automated donation process. Donors who may be strapped for time will find the collection technology ideal since it allows you to give more of what some patients need.<\/p>\n

“Red blood cells are the most frequently used blood component, and are needed by almost every patient who needs a blood transfusion,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “Not a day goes by that someone, somewhere doesn’t need red blood cells for emergency or ongoing medical care.<\/p>\n

While a donation of double red cells takes about 30 minutes longer than a whole blood donation, the waiting period between donations is 112 days versus 56 days for whole blood. When taken together, the overall time commitment for one double red cell donations is less that giving two units of whole blood.<\/p>\n

Donors who meet certain criteria may be eligible to safely donate double red cells. And blood donors with types O and B blood are frequently recruited for the automated donation process. Both blood types are in high demand, with type O being the most requested by hospitals since it can be transfused to patients in other blood groups such as A, B and AB. Hospitals also use type O-negative blood in most emergency trauma cases when a patient’s blood type isn’t known.<\/p>\n

“Double red cell donations can help streamline the blood collection process, and boost the supply available to hospital patients,” said Whitman. “That’s incredibly important during the summer when supplies are in delicate balance.”<\/p>\n

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UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA<\/strong>:<\/p>\n