Give blood, save lives
It’s something most of us don’t think about until someone close to us experiences a life-threatening accident or illness. Then we’re only too eager to donate blood. But many emergencies don’t allow for the luxury of time … which is why this next story is so important.
Ronald Stuart, President, Belize Blood Donor Service
“Blood is a gift that cannot be manufactured; it has to come from human beings.”
Kendra Griffith, Reporting
On the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, the Belize Blood Donor Service is encouraging all Belizeans to give the gift of life.
Ronald Stuart
“Each of us has a responsibility to make sure that we contribute donations of blood to the supply, so that when it is needed it is available.”
“While all of us might not need blood at a particular time, at some point in time somebody that we know will need. Whether it’s through illness, through violence, an accident, and it is critical to save lives.”
Helping to save a life today is second-time donor, twenty-six year old Angela Myvette.
Angela Myvette, Blood Donor
“One of my friends is in the hospital and her dad called and say it’s an emergency and so I came to give her some.”
Kendra Griffith
“Have you ever thought of becoming a regular donor?”
Angela Myvette
“Well, starting today I will be one for anyone who needs blood. They could come and I will give it to them if they need it.”
According to President of the Blood Donor Service and twelve year volunteer donor, Ronald Stuart, the process is easy.
Ronald Stuart
“There aren’t any risks to give a blood donation. A person that is in good health, comes in, they answer the questionnaire that we have to check that all is well with the potential donor, and once you have completed that questionnaire it is reviewed by the phlebotomist and the next process is to check your blood level, your haemoglobin level to see that it is within the range that will enable you to give and then we take the donation.”
After taking that donation, a sample is sent to the Central Medical Lab where it is screened for HIV, Hepatitis B, Chagas, Syphilis, and Malaria.
Ronald Stuart
“Once it passes all those tests then it’s screened as blood that is okay to be used. Once it fails any of those tests, it’s discarded.”
But in 2001, something went wrong with that process and three persons were infected with HIV after they were given transfusions with tainted blood. Today Stuart assured the public that the process is safe for those giving and receiving.
Ronald Stuart
“There are protocols that have been put in place that that should never occur again. There are things that happen and you learn from those experiences. And unfortunately that happened and because of that those protocols are now in place to make sure that we have a very safe supply.”
Once drawn, the blood has a life-span of only thirty-five days. The Blood Donor Serve conducts drives throughout the year to keep their supply steady.
Ronald Stuart
“At particular points in the year we prepare for holidays, and now we are in the hurricane season, to make sure that our supplies are up in the case that it is needed. So we do blood drives when we feel that it will augment what would come in regularly or occasionally from the volunteer donors.”
If you are between the ages of eighteen and sixty-five and would like to become a donor, visit the Belize Blood Donor Service office beside the K.H.M.H. on Princess Margaret Drive. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.
Two years ago the Blood Donor Service launched Club Twenty-Five, which encourages eighteen year olds to give twenty units of blood by age twenty-five.
