Today is Thursday
Jan 08, 2009
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Giving the gift of life |
| | Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 | | | |
By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
In the wake of disasters like 9/11, Katrina, and the Kansas tornadoes and flooding in May, generous blood donors across the nation rush to respond to people in need. But according to Pat McTighe, community relations director for Central Jersey Blood Center in Shrewsbury, that blood does little to help people on the spot.
“In a disaster, the blood on the shelf is what’s needed, not what someone donates the next day because it takes 24 to 36 hours for donated blood to get in the system. We have a constant need for blood for problems that arise,” she says.
Richard Loeffler doesn’t wait for a disaster. He drives from his home at Seabrook in Tinton Falls to the Central Jersey Blood Center in Shrewsbury to donate every chance he gets.
Every little bit
An O-positive blood type, Loeffler started giving blood at Fort Monmouth when he joined the military. “I’ve donated about 130 pints since the early 70s . . . and go as often as they allow me to,” he says.
Most people donate blood in one of two ways: whole blood or platelets. Whole blood donation takes about ten minutes and removes approximately one pint of blood. These donors can donate every eight weeks.
Platelet donation, a unique type, separates platelets, plasma, or white blood cells while returning the whole blood back to the body. While it takes about five times as long as whole blood donation, it also provides five times as many platelets. People who donate only platelets must wait 15 days to give again, up to 24 times a year.
Primarily, cancer and open heart surgery patients benefit from platelets, the component of blood that helps control bleeding. Some operations can require up to ten units of blood—as much as one person can donate in two years. | |
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Critical shortages
Unfortunately, only 5% of eligible donors give blood nationally, creating a critical need for blood in many areas. For example, New Jersey imports 75,000 units of blood a year, McTighe says, to meet patient needs in the state.
Many people may mistakenly believe they are not eligible to donate. Central Jersey Blood Center has no upper age limit, and even donors on medication for cholesterol, high blood pressure, or insulin diabetes are most likely eligible.
McTighe says they expect critical shortages this summer, so they urge all eligible donors to give blood on a regular basis. The Central Jersey Blood Center offers blood drives once a year at Seabrook. The next one is scheduled for October.
Never a waste
“You say to yourself, ‘At least this is one thing that won’t go to waste. You never can tell when it’ll save a life, but in every case it helps to make a sick person better,” Loeffler says.
In addition to years of donating blood, Loeffler also donates his time. “I love Seabrook because I use it as a base of operations. I’m only here half or less than half a day because I’m also very active in my church and grammar school back in Long Branch,” he says.
Additionally, he volunteers twice a week at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. Wednesday mornings he offers Holy Communion to Catholic patients, and Fridays he staffs the information desk.
“People generally appreciate volunteers, and I have enough different activities so I never get bored with any one of them,” he says.
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