Blood transfusions: A critical part of everyday medicine

Every two seconds, someone in America requires a blood transfusion, underscoring the critical need for blood donations. As blood cannot be synthesized, volunteers play a pivotal role in ensuring a steady supply for those in need.

 

January is National Blood Donor Month and serves as a moment of recognition for the dedicated volunteers in our communities who regularly step up to save lives. It's an opportunity to raise awareness about the continuous demand for blood donations.

 

“Blood is essential for lifesaving medical care for patients with traumatic injuries or chronic illnesses, as well as those in need of surgeries or cancer treatments,” says Melissa Marquardt, Aspirus Laboratory Blood Bank Technical Specialist. Given the prevalence of such needs, she notes that “everyone is likely to know someone who will require blood at some point.”

 

One in seven hospital patients require blood, yet only three percent of Americans donate, according to the American Red Cross (ARC). Marquardt encourages potential donors, saying “it’s easy, safe, and only takes about an hour of your time.” Since it can be done every 56 days, she urges eligible donors to consider this an opportunity to make donating blood a routine way of giving back.

 

For Wausau area residents interested in contributing, The Community Blood Center facilitates blood donations. A calendar of blood drive events can be found at https://www.bcnwi.org/.

 

The selfless generosity of community members who donate is crucial for meeting emergency and ongoing medical needs. By collectively supporting blood donation efforts, we can save lives and provide essential support across our communities.

 

For more information on giving blood, individuals can visit https://givingblood.org/ or https://www.redcrossblood.org/.

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