United Blood Services says it’s in need of whole blood and platelets

Donations for whole blood, double red cell, platelet and plasma are needed at United Blood Services center in Morgan City.
National Blood Donor Month has been observed in January since 1970 with the goal of increasing blood and platelet donations during winter, which is one of the most difficult times of year to collect enough blood products to meet patient needs.
“The draw for the holidays this year was really nice,” said United Blood Services Assistant Donor Care Supervisor Clair Akes.
“The donors were really open to coming in to donate over the holidays,” Akes said. “The draw for the holidays was better than it has been in the last couple of years.”
Both Tri-City area residents Virgil Allen and Debra Rock donated blood before graduating to platelets.
Donating “blood wasn’t bad,” Rock said. “I came every eight weeks. But it got to a point where I couldn’t give for a while.
“I tried something else, I think whole red blood cells, but that was hard for me. It took all of my energy away and made me feel weird.”
Rock’s daughter and Akes talked her into the idea of donating plate-lets, which go to cancer patients. She’s donated platelets for over a year and blood around eight years.
“They kind of tricked me,” Rock said. “And I came in and gave. I’ve been giving ever since. I like coming in giving this. And I try to come in every two weeks.”
Allen has been a platelet donor since 1998, and a blood donor much longer than that.
“It helps someone else, and I’ve got plenty to give,” Allen said. “To go from blood to platelets, in a sense you’re being more helpful because you can do it more often and you’re giving to cancer patients, usually.”
Donating blood is a good idea, at least as a start. That is if you meet the requirements.
“You never know when something is going to happen to yourself or someone in your family that may need blood,” Rock said. “With you doing this, you’re guaranteed.
“I do it to help others but I also do it because I never know when some-one in my family may need blood.”
For Allen, “it’s important because it can save lives,” he said. “You’re giving to some-one else who needs it. They need it usually for a lifesaving event.”
The center takes donors five days a week in Morgan City. If you donate blood at the center in January, you will receive a “Find the hero in you” coffee cup.
For more information, call 985-384-5671, or visit www.unitedbloodservices.org.