WAILUA — Blood donations are down nationwide, including on the island of Kauai, according to the Blood Bank of Hawaii. In response, a community-wide blood drive is being organized to address the need and encourage residents to step forward.
Garden Island residents will now have three opportunities to help their community by signing up for the upcoming blood drive scheduled for Dec. 17 through Dec. 19 at the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort in Wailua.
The Blood Bank of Hawaii (BBH) explained that the local blood supply is reaching critically low levels and the three-day event is crucial for the island. As winter approaches this will ensure hospitals have enough supply so that patients statewide have access to life-saving transfusions and treatments.
“Historically, the holiday season is a challenging time for us because people are spending time with loved ones, celebrating and traveling,” said Nicholas Perih, director of recruitment and communication relations for the BBH.
“In addition, our high school blood drives come to a halt as schools wind down before the winter break. Despite this, hospital usage often increases during the winter due to emergencies and planned surgeries.”
“Our latest data,” added Perih, “tells us that we collected 2.1 percent of the state’s blood supply from Kauai’s donors last year; at the same time, Kauai used 3 percent of the state’s blood supply during that same year, so there is need to increase blood donation on Kauai.”
Although 60 percent of adults in Hawaii are eligible to donate, Perih said, only 2 percent do so regularly. Hawaii needs to see between 150-200 blood donors each day to keep up with hospital demand and cannot rely on supply from the mainland due to their shortage and extreme weather events.
Kauai’s isolation and increased demand for hospital services highlight the importance of contributing through donations.
“Individuals with tattoos are also eligible and encouraged to donate,” said Perih, “It’s a common myth that having tattoos makes you ineligible to donate blood. Most people with tattoos can donate blood as long as they don’t have risk factors that prohibit or limit blood donation.”
Currently, the BBH reports a critically low inventory of O-type blood, with particular concern for O-negative blood. The importance of O-negative blood cannot be overstated, as this specific blood type is classified as the “universal donor” blood type which holds a high importance in emergencies, particularly when a patient’s blood type is unknown or not readily accessible.
“In Hawaii, we truly are ‘alone, together’ when it comes to blood donation,” added Perih. “So, it’s of the utmost importance that we step up to support our local residents because one day it very well might be you or I in the hospital whose life is saved by the selfless act of a community-minded blood donor.”
The qualifications for becoming a blood donor are straightforward. Regardless of whether individuals are aware of their blood type, every potential donor undergoes a comprehensive and complimentary health screening before donation to verify that they can donate safely. Anyone over the age of 18 qualifies, however; 16 and 17-year-olds may donate with a signed parent/legal guardian consent.
The BBH continues to act as the sole provider of blood and blood products for all civilian hospitals across Hawaii, including those on Kauai. To make an appointment, visiting bbh.org or call 808-848-4770.
