Summer impacts blood supply

SIKESTON -- Donating blood this month may save someone's life, but it also provides donors a chance to win two Busch Stadium seats following the structure's demolition.

"Right now is a very critical time for us," Shannon Thompson, donor recruitment account manager for Southeast Missouri. "We always get hit hard after the Fourth of July because of increased accidents."

With the Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region, which includes Scott County, at about a half-a-day supply -- compared to the normal three-day supply -- the American Red Cross has issued an urgent national appeal for blood donations.

"We always take for granted the blood is there, but it's very scary to think that it's not there. And at this time, it's not there," Thompson said.

In the summer donors typically drop their normal routines by going on vacations or to ball games, and making time to donate blood doesn't seem to be as high of a priority, Thompson noted.

"And unfortunately your injuries don't decrease in the summer, and you can't stop surgeries or hold off on a liver transplant because the blood supply is low and we still have to give blood to those healing from cancer -- those things continue on during summer time," Thompson said.

On average, emergency rooms use between four and 40 units of blood to treat one car accident victim.

Some people say they will call in the family to donate blood if they need it, but there really isn't time for that, Thompson pointed out. The blood has to be tested in St. Louis, which takes days, then brought back to the area, she explained.

"Hospitals really have to have a supply sitting there for emergencies and traumas that are going to happen," Thompson said.

So in an effort to increase the blood supply, the St. Louis Cardinals teamed up with the American Red Cross with the "Step Up To the Plate and Donate" campaign.

Those who donate blood or attempt to donate blood during July will be entered into the campaign. One random presenting donor from a Red Cross blood drive will win a pair of Cardinals tickets each week.

And those 18 and older who give blood in July can also enter to win the St. Louis Cardinals Dream package, which includes a pair of Cardinals game tickets, an overnight stay at the downtown St. Louis Drury Plaza Hotel, a $100 gift certificate for J. Buck's Restaurant, a $100 gift certificate for Mike Shannon's Steaks and Seafood and two actual seats from Busch Stadium after demolition.

"If I was someone who had never donated, heard about shortage, am a fan and living in Cardinal Nation, I would sure come out and donate," Thompson said.

Several blood drives are planned in the area this month (see sidebar) including the City of Sikeston's annual blood drive set for July 21 at the Hunter Memorial First Presbyterian Church in Sikeston.

This year the Red Cross and City of Sikeston are doing something different called the Badges for Life promotion, which is a friendly competition between the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, the South Scott County Ambulance and other city officials, Thompson said.

"They're trying to get as many employees and members of their families -- and friends -- to donate blood. Whichever department gets the most to donate, depending on the employee size, will win a $500 reward to give to any charity of their choice," Thompson explained.

For the past four years Amy Smith, city public works administrative assistant, has been responsible for notifying city employees about the city-sponsored blood drives.

"I think it's very important," Smith said about donating blood. "I give blood as often as I can and every chance I get. It's helped a lot of people in my family, and I think giving blood appeals to the police officers a lot because of all the wrecks they've worked."

All type O donors, type A-negative and type B-negative are blood types currently suffering the greatest shortage. Of course O-negative, the universal blood type, is always needed.

Thompson said: "All we ask of people is to put themselves in another person's place and think about what they would want another person do if it was their loved one who needed the blood."