Emergency need for blood, platelet donations

COEUR d’ALENE — Zoie Cloutier had never donated blood or platelets before, but when she heard there was a shortage in the local supply, she made it a point to spend her Monday afternoon at Vitalant.

“I just heard there was a need and I work in the medical community, so I like to help,” Cloutier said. The Coeur d’Alene resident is a nursing student at North Idaho College and she hopes to go into pediatrics after she graduates in December.

Vitalant is currently taking on a big goal to help counteract the emergency need currently concerning the medical community in North Idaho.

This August push is key to ensuring the area remains prepared as summer wanes. Vitalant representative Audrey Lewis said donations dip in the dog days without high school donations.

“Summer is our hardest time to collect blood. We really lose our edge this time of year,” Lewis said.

Emergency need means there is only one to two days of supply on hand and there needs to be about 200-250 units on hand in order to meet local needs for surgeries, cancer patients, emergency situations and other medical conditions requiring the elixir vitae.

The Vitalant location in Coeur d’Alene is the only fixed site in the region as things changed rapidly during the early days of the pandemic.

There are 93 spots available for donation for the Vitalant drive at the Department of Lands Friday, Aug. 4. If those 93 spots are all filled, there would be 273 units of blood received to support local patients in need. A single blood donation can save up to three lives. Donors at the Vitalant blood drive will not only receive a free T-shirt after donating, but they’ll also be given a ticket to the North Idaho State Fair in August.

Cindy Rogers of Priest River has donated 11 gallons of blood since she started in her 20s or 30s. That means she’s contributed about 88 pints of blood altogether. Rogers made the long drive to Coeur d'Alene to make sure she did her part. Her cancer has now been in remission for seven years and she's since kept up regular donations.

“Platelets are really important, and they asked me if I wanted to try and donate them this time and I said, ‘Sure!’ I know it helps make a difference. This is my friend, Alice, I brought with me. This is her first time she’s ever donated. We’re going to meet up with a friend for lunch and make a day of it,” Rogers said

Alice Reber, of Oldtown, said that though this may be her first time donating blood, she’ll definitely be accompanying Rogers on a future trip to give blood again.

By the numbers

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.

The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.9 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2023. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.

Source: redcrossblood.org

If you go

What: Kellogg blood drive

When: Noon - 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 1

Where: Elks Lodge, 202 ½ McKinley Ave., Kellogg

What: The Post Falls Kiwanis Club, Post Falls Rotary, and the Post Falls Lions Club are hosting a blood drive

When: 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 3

Where: Bus outside the Post Falls Chamber, 201 E 4th Ave., Post Falls

Questions? Contact RaeAnne Capaul at 208-262-4047 or email rcapaul@postfallschamber.com.

What: Coeur d’Alene blood drive

When: from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 4

Where: 3284 Industrial Loop, Sundance Room, Coeur d’Alene

To set up an appointment to give blood through Vitalant, call 877-258-4825

To schedule an appointment, visit www.vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).