Give blood, get a t-shirt

Published 4:02 am Thursday, January 28, 2016

    United Blood Services is celebrating the Mardi Gras season by encouraging locals to donate blood.

    The organization will be set up in the Specialty Hospital of Meridian classroom Friday, where donations can be made from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Donors will receive a Mardi Gras themed t-shirt while supplies last.

    For more than 40 years, January has been recognized as National Blood Donor Month. According to United Blood Services, every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood.

    Mitzi Breaux, the agency’s marketing and communications manager, said it’s good when people donate during a traumatic event, but blood needs to be donated on a consistent basis at least three times a year. One person’s donation saves up to three lives and makes a huge impact on patient’s lives, she said.     

    “A lot of people start donating blood when something tragic happens like  9/11 or Katrina,” Breaux said. “There were tons of people coming out to donate blood; however when things like that happen, the blood needs to be on hand, readily available, and ready to go.”

    “We need to always be prepared in all blood types, and all different products like whole blood, platelets, plasma, and double red cells,” Breaux said. “This is so we can have everything on hand when someone we love needs it.”

    Breaux said all blood types are needed, but O Negative is always in high demand.

    “We don’t want anyone to think their blood type is not important, but O Negative is the universal blood type,” Breaux said. “It can be transfused to anyone regardless of what their blood type is, so our hospitals keep a standard stock of O Negative on their shelves. If you are rushed in for a trauma they won’t take time to type you.”

    According to Breaux, O Negative is the only blood premature babies can receive.

    “It’s negative for all the antibodies, and it is very pure in that sense, and the only type of blood a baby can receive,” she said.

    Blood donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Additional height and weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger, and donors who are 16 must have a minor donor permit signed by a parent or legal guardian. Photo identification is also required. Donors wanting to schedule a appointment can go to www.unitedbloodservices.org or call 601-264-0743.