Michael Arnold Glueck -- COMMUNITY COMMENTARY
Newport-Mesa is bloodthirsty, just like the rest of the nation, and
becoming more so every day. More accurately, we are thirsty for blood
donations. The severity of the shortage has forced the postponement of
elective surgeries and other nonemergency treatments.
Although blood donations are up slightly, the demand is increasing
faster than the supply. This is due to a combination of an older
population and medical advances increasing the number of highly technical
and complex procedures, such as organ transplants, that require a lot of
blood.
Our local situation is a bit better than the national crisis. Randy
Gurman, chief of the Blood Bank at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, says
his blood bank is relatively “fortunate because the hospital has its own
on-site donor center. Elsewhere shortages are getting worse and lasting
longer.”
Hoag Hospital uses an average of about 41 units every day. The
American Red Cross supplies about 40% of the blood used. This is roughly
in line with national figures, which show the Red Cross supplying about
half of the national supply.
Out of a pool of more than 200 million eligible blood donors, less
than 5% percent actually give blood. Americans always dig deep when the
Red Cross puts out the call for disaster relief. So why the resistance to
giving this lifesaving gift?
There are numerous factors. Some are a reflection of human nature,
others due to Mother Nature. December’s ice storms in the East and
Midwest forced the cancellation of more than 5,000 donations.
The human factors most often cited include anxiety about the
procedure, lack of time to donate and the intimate nature of the
donation. While we can’t do anything about the weather, here are some
suggestions about the others.
Those needles can be big and intimidating! I’ve witnessed the biggest
and toughest guys pass out. But this is simple to remedy -- just reduce
the size of the needle. The actual blood draw may take a little longer,
but it would be worth the change.
The second issue is more complex to address. Blood transfusion is
really a form of organ transplantation. Donating or receiving blood means
more to us as humans than giving or receiving a pint of milk. This is
part of the ethical basis for the current dependence on free blood
donation, without other compensation for the donors. It’s time to rethink
this policy.
Why not extend the federal tax donation for charitable contributions
to blood donations? Any other charitable donation qualifies for a tax
deduction, whether cash or goods. Why should a gift of used clothes to
the Salvation Army be worth more on your 1040 than the gift of blood to
the Red Cross? Giving the gift of life to others should have more value
than a cup of orange juice.
In the meantime, consider donating blood. You must be at least 17
years old, in good general health and weigh more than 110 pounds. Most blood banks have no upper age limit. Your body usually replenishes the
blood within two months. Some studies even suggest that donating may
decrease the likelihood of heart disease.
Blood is immune from the divisions of race, religion, color, gender
and background. Most of the blood you give today will give life within 24
to 48 hours.
* MICHAEL ARNOLD GLUECK is a Newport Beach doctor who writes locally
and nationally on health care and legal reform issues.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.