Hills sees blood need

By: 
Leslie Silverman

The Black Hills has an urgent need for Type O blood.

Donations of all blood types are always needed to replenish supply, but Type O blood is the most transfused blood type, with O-negative blood being the universal blood type.

“It’s what ER doctors grab first when there isn’t time to determine a patient’s blood type,” says Molly Barari, donor recruitment representative with Vitalant.

 The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the blood donation process in multiple ways.

“Nationwide, more than 200 blood drives continue to be canceled each week because of the pandemic but the need for blood has returned to pre-pandemic levels,” Barari said. “The pandemic has also impacted the number of healthy donors that are available to give blood.”

Nicer summer weather traditionally means a drop in donations.

“Donations tend to drop during the summer months, and those who are vaccinated are starting to travel and spend more time outdoors,” Barari said.

As a result, donating blood might not be “at the top of” a person’s mind in the summer, she added.

Healthy donors are needed to make up those lost units of blood.

“It’s the blood that’s already on the shelves that saves lives in an emergency, and that’s why we strive to keep a safe and ready supply ready to go at all times,” Barari said.

Blood donations are crucial to saving lives.

“Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood,” Barari said.

She estimates about three percent of the US population donates blood, even though most people are eligible.

“Vitalant encourages healthy donors to give blood so that doctors and hospitals have the lifesaving blood products they need, when they need it,” Barari said. “A car accident victim may need as many as 100 units of blood to treat his or her injuries. Vitalant must collect about 5,300 donations every day to meet the needs of patients at 900 hospitals coast-to-coast.”

Donating blood is easy. Vitalant schedules appointments and accepts walk-ins at the Rapid City location at 2209 W. Omaha St. A blood drive is held in Hill City every 8 weeks for Southern Hills residents to help with the ongoing need.

The donation process takes about an hour, with only about 15 minutes in the donation chair.

“Platelets and plasma take a bit longer (around two hours), but it’s a great opportunity to sit back, relax, and have some needed relaxation time,” Barari said.

Vitalant treats donors to snacks after a donation. Most importantly, says Barari, “you will leave knowing you are vital, and that your donation helped save the life of a patient in need.”

The next blood drive in Hill City takes place on June 2 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Super 8 Motel.

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