Red Cross Holds Kisco Blood Drive Amid Shortage, Gets Decent Turnout (Update)

Update, 11:37 a.m. Wednesday:

Kane has final results from the blood drive, which are quoted below in an email, which is courtesy of Riley:

Blood Drive Results:

30 people signed in

24 units (pints) of blood obtained.  (This will help 72 patients)

6  people were deferred from donating.  (due to low iron, travel, etc)

21 people were first time donors with the Red Cross.  (Great number)

Original Story, 5:20 a.m., Wednesday

A meeting room at the was filled with equipment Tuesday, as the American Red Cross held at blood drive to get more donors.

The drive, while planned earlier this year, coincides with the organization making a “national appeal” due to short supply, according to Thomas Kane, an account manager for donor services recruitment at the organization.

“Our levels are way down he said.” The last time a national appeal was made occurred in 2006, he said. A factor in the low supply stems from natural disasters that occurred in parts of the country earlier this year, which led to fewer donations, he explained.

Despite an uphill climb, the Red Cross received a good number of people. Thirty people signed in, while Kane anticipates that 25 units of blood will be collected. Some people maybe have been deferred for various reasons, he explained. The value of one person’s donated blood can be spread among three people, Kane said, and it is separated into plasma, platelets and red blood cells, used for various medical situations.

Kane called the turnout “pretty respectable.”

Susan Riley, the library’s director, said it’s for a good cause. He was among those who donated, and said that it is the first time a blood drive has been held in the building.

Albert Stroman, a donor specialist who performs phlebotomy, felt the donors reacted “pretty well.”

If they get to keep just unit of blood, Stroman said, “that one unit is going to help someone.”

The donation process includes several steps, starting with interviews of people who signed up, followed by finger pricking (if the people are permitted to donate), then the drawing of blood from an area roughly underneath the elbow.

Stephanie van Ryzin, a Millwood resident, said she had wanted to donate for a while. A factor in doing so is because she has a rare blood type, which could help.

Molly Reynolds, a North Salem resident, said she was donated before. While she gets nervous about doing it, she knows that she is helping somebody.

Also on hand was Rudy Masry from Donate Life, which registers volunteer organ donors. Masry himself was a recipient of a donated kidney.