By Tedler D. Depaynos, MD
The Philippine Red Cross, Baguio Chapter led by the chairman, Atty. Erdolfo Balajadia, had been having a series of bloodletting projects. There was a time when it was done at Malcolm Square and majority of the volunteer donors were practically all walk-ins and made up of both sexes of different ages. What was distinct and common was that they were all ordinary daily pedestrians who upon interview felt the important role of Red Cross in the community and they were all donating their blood to help. One of them was a visually impaired male who from the records already donated 7 times. Atty. Balajadia was thinking of making a poster with his picture to encourage more blood donors.
With the number of walk-in donors during their bloodletting projects, the Red Cross staff, headed by Ms. Annie Tamayo together with the volunteers made up mostly of nurses and medical technologists were kept visibly busy. Those volunteers working without remuneration but for experience were like the donors who enjoyed helping the Red Cross fulfill its noble commitment.
Despite the extensive blood donations there are times when the demand is more extensive resulting in an artificial shortage of blood. This occurs when some patients suddenly are literally in need of gallons of blood. They are those with unique diseases like blood dyscrasias or those with massive blood loss due to trauma resulting from unforeseen accidents. There are also times when certain rare blood types or fresh blood components like platelets which are needed occasionally for bleeding dengue patients, happen not to be available or if available has already expired. Donated blood lasts only for 21 days despite our modern facilities. And sometimes at that age, many of the components of the blood are already not viable. It is always best to infuse newly extracted blood. These are some reasons why blood is sometimes not available aside from occasional lack of donors. So individuals requesting for blood should understand this.
I could remember the days when private blood banks were still around. Blood was sold like a commodity and some were maintained by business establishments located near hospitals. Most of them were taken from professional donors for a fee. They were not screened properly and some blood packs were kept in refrigerators containing also soft drinks and other frozen food items. Blood maybe readily available during those times but then, blood transmitted diseases were not controlled and blood reactions were heard from time to time. It was Dr. Juan Flavier when he was the DOH secretary who caused that those unsupervised blood banks to be abolished.
The Red Cross, Baguio Chapter is the recognized blood center in the region. It has the modern capability of determining blood type, test the donated blood for the presence of any blood transmitted diseases and divide them into their different components. Hence, when whole blood or their components are released, rest assured they are thoroughly screened. Since blood was donated it is expected to be free. The reagents used in screening them however are expensive. This is the one being refunded by the recipient.
It is suggested that a LIVING BLOOD BANK be established by organizations or associations, group of employees, relatives or friends. Blood typing of all the members of the group or associations should be done and a master list be kept. In case of sudden need due to unpredicted accidents or diseases, members of the same blood type would be asked to donate. Of course, donation is always voluntary but if the requests come from a close friend or a member of the group or association, in all probability the member would not refuse especially if he/she had that experience also of needing blood once. Blood need not be preserved and it would always be fresh. Besides only the required blood type would be extracted.
Practically, all hospitals also have their own blood banks. They also process and dispense donated blood mostly to their confined patients. There are times, however, when the needed blood is not available so that the Red Cross becomes the last resort. In fact even institutions and individuals outside the city come to our local Red Cross for help.
Recently the city endorsed a blood program where the different barangays and organizations will organize a group of donors. This is actually a “living blood bank” program that needs a lot of support because the need for blood is not fixed. Again, extracted blood expires after 3 weeks and emergency needs may not be predicted.
Dispensing blood is not the only service provided by Red Cross. It is very visible during emergencies and calamities. It provides experience and training to interested parties and the credentials it issues are respected and accepted worldwide. It is dependent, however, on volunteerism. It is dependent on its donors and supporters. It is dependent on its fund raising activities. It is dependent on YOU.
Support your Red Cross!
