Editorial

The need is always great

Thursday, June 16, 2016

We all saw the images earlier this week as people began to react to the terrorist attack in Orlando last Sunday morning.

In the face of news of 49 victims dead and dozens more injured, people began lining up to donate blood just to do anything to help in the face of such a staggering tragedy.

It's a consistent response we've seen to tragedies from 9/11 attacks all the way up to Orlando.

If there's any positive that we can say comes out of such senseless acts of hate (and it's really hard to say there is), it is that we get a peek at our own capacity for caring about our fellow man.

The response in Orlando was overwhelming.

People waited in line for hours to donate blood.

Blood banks in Orlando had to tell people they were at capacity and to wait a few days to make appointments.

These are valid, humbling responses to a senseless act of terror and hate.

But it's not enough.

To give blood is to give life. And the truth is, the life-sustaining liquid is needed every day.

Every day there are accident victims. Every day there are surgeries. Every day there are chemotherapy treatments, premature babies and 1,000 other reasons our blood is needed.

Perhaps the American Red Cross can put it a little better than we can:

* Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.

* Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S.

* Nearly 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.

* Nearly 21 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.

* The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately three pints.

* The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.

* The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.

* It is estimated that sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives.

* More than 1.68 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2016. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.

* A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood. (Source: redcrossblood.org.)

The need is real and the need is constant. Fortunately, there are many chances for those so inclined to donate their blood. A few are coming up soon here in Putnam County.

The 10th annual Capt. Jim Baugh Memorial Blood Drive is scheduled for 1-6 p.m. Monday at Greencastle Christian Church, 620 Primrose Lane.

The blood drive is co-sponsored by the Baugh family and the Putnam County Fraternal Order of Police and also affiliated with the Indiana Fallen Officer Blood Drive.

The Bloodmobile will be in town for a pair of Tuesday events.

It will be at Ivy Tech-Greencastle, 915 Zinc Mill Rd., from 9:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

Thereafter, the Putnam County Courthouse will sponsor a drive of its own from noon-4 p.m.

Another opportunity will be available during the Putnam County Fair, with the South Putnam High School football team sponsoring a drive in partnership with the Indiana Blood Center and the Indianapolis Colts.

That event will take place from 1-6 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

In each case, the process takes about an hour.

Keep an eye out in the Banner Graphic for more opportunities to give. If your organization is sponsoring or hosting a blood drive, send it to news@bannergraphic.com for publicity.

Don't wait for a tragedy to strike Indiana. Be an everyday hero. Give blood.