Each of us probably has a connection with the American Red Cross (ARC). If not as a blood donor or volunteer, then perhaps we have taken a CPR class or have a child who is a Red Cross trained babysitter or learned to swim from a Red Cross trained instructor (many such classes are offered through the Shelburne Recreation Dept.)

March is National Red Cross Month, which gives us a chance to focus on the multi-front services provided by this organization.

Red Cross Blood Services

The American Red Cross Biomedical Services plays a critical role in our nation's health care system. It is the largest single supplier of blood and blood products in the United States, collecting and processing more than 40 percent of the blood supply and distributing it to some 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. The Red Cross also plays a leading role in protecting the safety of donors and patients and increasing the availability of blood. It has been among the first to help develop and implement testing for infectious diseases and is frequently the single major contributor to clinical trials to improve blood safety. Providing life-saving blood and blood products to patients is a key component of the Red Cross mission to help people in times of emergency and disasters.  

The Northern New England Region encompasses Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, with its headquarters in Burlington, Vt. The region collects over 185,000 units of blood annually from volunteer donors at community blood drives, corporate blood drives, and at high schools and colleges. The Northern New England Region provides blood products to over 80 hospitals in the three states and can also send blood throughout the rest of New England and across the country when needed.

And the need is great:

• Blood cannot be manufactured. Its only source is a healthy donor.

• The ARC provides about half the nation's blood supply.

• Nationally, less than 5 percent of the population gives blood.

• 500 pints of blood must be collected every working day in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont to meet patient needs.

• The Northern New England Red Cross Region serves 83 hospitals.

• Blood is perishable. Red blood cells must be used within 42 days. Other blood products must be used within five days.

• During the best of times, blood inventories are just a few days ahead of demand.

With such a small window between supply and demand, it doesn't take much to negatively impact the community's blood supply. Many times, blood supplies — particularly of O positive and O negative — can quickly drop down to less than a day's supply. When this happens, hospitals may have to cancel elective surgery until reserves are back up. Because it takes a few days before blood donations can be processed, test and distributed to hospitals, it is the blood that is on the shelves today — ready and waiting — that helps save lives.