2 Peachtree Street Employees Respond to Urgent Need for Blood Donors    
 
(L-R) Latonya Williams with DBHDD and Diane Green with DHS contributed to the 32 pints of blood donated by employees on July 17 to the American Red Cross in Metro Atlanta.
Each quarter, Lisa Miller in the Operations Division of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) diligently organizes and recruits volunteers for the 2 Peachtree Street blood drive for the American Red Cross of Metro Atlanta (ARCMA). Miller has been organizing the blood drive for all state employees at this location since January 2010.

"I feel like this is something public health should do because we save lives," said Miller.

Beth Parmer, senior donor recruitment representative with the American Red Cross, Southern Region, is elated to work with Miller and volunteers.  

"Blood donations are down in the first five months of 2012 compared to the same period last year," explained Parmer. "There is only about half the amount of readily available blood in the Red Cross inventory at this time. Donations of blood types O positive, O negative, A negative and B negative are urgently needed."  

Parmer further put into perspective the urgent need for people to donate.  

"In Atlanta, we have a population of about 4 million people. At any given time, about 2 million are eligible to donate blood. Less than 3 percent of eligible people in Atlanta donate blood. That is lower than the national average," Parmer said.

Employees at 2 Peachtree Street responded to the clarion call and donated 32 pints. Parmer said those 32 pints could potentially help 96 patients.

"The plasma can be used for burned victims, the platelets can be used for persons in chemotherapy and the red blood cells can potentially save patients during surgery."

The national average is 5 percent. Parmer said the Red Cross does not collect enough blood in Atlanta to take care of patients in the community's hospitals and emergency rooms.

There were several personal stories as employees from various government agencies donated blood. Volunteers were ready with bottled water and refreshments for donors.

Diane Green of the Department of Human Services (DHS) was one of the early donors and glad to see the Red Cross team. "I've been giving blood for 20 years," she explained.  "My sister gave birth to my nephew who weighed less than two pounds. Brian survived and is now 33 years old. He would not have made it without the blood transfusion."  

Tom Underwood of the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) also donated.

Tarkeshia Smith, team supervisor in collections with the American Red Cross of Metro Atlanta, monitors Tom Underwood with DCH as he donated one pint of blood.
"I know people need blood for surgery and accidents," Underwood said. "Years ago, my mother had bypass heart surgery and she needed several pints of blood.  She could not have done as well without the blood transfusion. I have a wife and two children and if they are ever in an accident, I want them to have the blood they need to live."

Barbara Crane, a nurse consultant for the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), and Latonya Williams of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) are cytomegalovirus (CMV) negative.

Barbara Crane's blood type is cytomegalovirus (CMV) negative, has been donating blood to the American Red Cross for more than 40 years and routinely for about eight years.
"They need my CMV negative blood for transfusions for transplant patients and premature babies," said Crane. "I get reminders from the Red Cross when they need my blood type. It is so convenient for me to give at 2 Peachtree Street where I work. I've been giving blood for over 40 years and routinely for about eight years."

"I am also CMV negative and I donate blood regularly because my blood can be used for infants, cancer patients and transplants," said Williams.  "I feel it is my civic duty to give and it completes the circle of life. Only 15 percent of the population is CMV negative. You never know when I will be in need for this type of blood."

Miller said she hopes to expand their reach at 2 Peachtree next quarter. The next blood drive will be October 2, 2012.

Help prevent a summer blood shortage by making an appointment to give blood today.  Learn how you donate blood at www.redcrossblood.org .

-Story by Connie F. Smith, DPH Communications

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