Red Cross sees a surge in first-time donors

Last month, 31.7 percent of people who donated in the region were first-timers.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, American Red Cross blood inventories are running two to three times what they were last fall, but there's no oversupply and all donations will be used where they're needed, Red Cross officials said.
"What we have seen since Sept. 11 is an increase in blood donations and a significant increase in first-time donors," said Karen Kelley, manager of communications and marketing for the Cleveland-based Northern Ohio Blood Services Region.
Increase: Last month, 31.7 percent of the region's donors were first-timers, compared with 11 percent to 12 percent over several months just before then.
"Right now, we have a healthier blood supply than we have traditionally," said Kelley, whose region serves 61 hospitals in 19 northeast Ohio counties, including Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana.
The region, whose collections must average at least 900 pints daily to meet its needs, now averages a nine-day supply of blood products, compared to a two-day supply at this time last year, she said Thursday.
At times this past summer, some blood types dwindled to a half-day supply for the region, she said.
"Because of the donor response beginning Sept. 11, and still continuing to this day, we are in an unusual position of being able to provide hospitals with all the blood products they request," said Marianne Spampinato, public relations director for the Red Cross Greater Alleghenies Region based in Johnstown, Pa.
Service area: The region serves 110 hospitals in 100 counties in six states, including Lawrence and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania. With 56 first-time donors, Lawrence County generated last month 368 usable pints of blood, exceeding its goal of 321. With 54 first-time donors, Mercer County generated 440 usable pints last month, exceeding its goal of 403.
In the Alleghenies region, inventories now vary from four- to six-day supplies, compared to 11/2 to 21/2 days a year ago. The Alleghenies region collected 25,274 pints last month -- a 30.5 percent increase over the 19,372 collected in September 2000.
Last month, 25 percent of Alleghenies region donors were first-time donors, but previously fewer than 10 percent would typically have been first-time donors.
Spampinato said the Alleghenies region sent 140 pints to Philadelphia on Sept. 11 to replace what the Red Cross Philadelphia blood center had sent to New York City. Kelley said the Northern Ohio Region sent blood and blood products to New York and Washington for two weeks after Sept. 11. Both noted that there were fewer survivors than expected at the World Trade Center.
"Everyone who donated blood can be assured that their blood donation is being put to good use," Kelley said, noting that the Red Cross monitors regional inventories daily and moves blood around the country to meet needs. Any blood not needed immediately becomes part of a strategic blood reserve, she said.
Processing: Every donated pint is separated into three components: the plasma, which, if frozen, can have a multiyear shelf life; red blood cells, which can be refrigerated for up to 42 days or frozen for up to a year; and platelets, the most perishable component, with only a five-day refrigerated shelf life, Kelley said.
"If there can be a good thing that came out of Sept. 11, it's that the American public has become much more aware of the need to have an adequate blood supply available at all times," Spampinato added. "We need this donor response to continue over the coming weeks and months."
milliken@vindy.com