The Heart of Donating

 The Heart of Donating 

Written by Brenden Nickels, senior office assistant 

Happy Valentine’s Day! To celebrate Kraus-Anderson is joining forces with the American Red Cross in holding its annual blood drive in our headquarters office. If you don’t have a sweetheart to show your love to today, why not donate blood to ensure that you care for someone who may need it to live? 

For some, donating blood may not seem like a big deal, but the impact of donating is incredible and very necessary. According to the Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the US will need blood. And in order for someone to receive blood, the Red Cross has to collect an estimate of about 12,500 donations each day. In fact, about 82% of donations they receive are from blood drives like what we will have. Recipients of donations include cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, car accident victims, new mothers having difficulty delivering their babies, and so on. 

It’s important that the United States has a steady supply of blood. About 6.8 million Americans donate blood annually, and a lot of them do so because they or a friend/family member has received blood that has been donated. It’s a good way to give back to your community and feel connected. Also, if you use the new Red Cross Donor App on your smart device, you can keep track of your blood type, blood pressure, and hemoglobin levels, as well as specific tests like COVID antibodies during the COVID-19 pandemic or check your A1C. 

Almost anybody can donate blood. It can be scary the first time, but those that are working the drive make it safe and can answer any questions you might have. It only takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and besides a quick needle stick, doesn’t hurt.   

I sat down with Kraus-Anderson Community and Corporate Engagement Coordinator Nicole Malone and asked her a few questions about the drive: 

How much turnout does the blood drive usually receive? 

A Red Cross blood drive typically collects approximately 200 to 100 pints of blood depending on the size of the sponsoring organization. Most businesses, such as KA, sign up 30-40 individuals to donate blood to meet their collection goal. Our goal for this drive is 26 units of blood. 

Why is donating blood important? 

To put it bluntly, without donated blood many hospitalized patients will die. The need is great: every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and/or platelets. Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. More than 1.9 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2025. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment. 

What are some of the best parts of holding a blood drive? 

The best part of holding a blood drive is allowing employees, and Kraus-Anderson, a convenient opportunity to give back to their community. Holding a blood drive is free for the sponsoring organization and can be a great way to build camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose. 

For those who would like to donate blood, what are some things they should know in advance? 

Donors should eat a good meal the night before their donation (iron-rich foods such as red meat and green leafy vegetables can help make a successful donation), get plenty of rest the night before, eat a good breakfast, and make sure to be well hydrated. 

For more info on blood donation (participation/hosting/biomedical services), visit the Red Cross Blood website at Donate Blood, Platelets or Plasma. Give Life | Red Cross Blood.