By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
One blood donation can save up to three lives. Taking the time to donate
blood is not only a great way to give back, but someday you or a loved one may need to rely on donated blood.
As always, healthcare providers are encouraging donations, especially with January
being National Blood Donor Month.
Kristi Engle, a lab supervisor at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned,
said blood donations have been okay, but a drop usually comes as summer
approaches with schedules get busier.
"The COVID-19 pandemic didn't help with blood donations," said Engle. "There was a critically low crisis for blood during COVID. Sometimes you had to get approval from the American Red Cross to get additional units. Lately, donations seem to be okay, but you can certainly expect a drop in the upcoming months."
One of the hardships of blood shortages is small, rural hospitals having to
ship patients to providers with a larger supply of blood. Sometimes, the
shortages have forced providers to treat the underlying issue instead of “putting a Band-Aid
on it.”
"Blood helps you for the time being, but if there's an underlying problem you have to figure that out," said Engle. "It almost challenges the providers to think more critically on what is actually causing the low blood."
The next local American Red Cross blood drive is Monday, Jan. 23 from 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. at St. Rose Auditorium, 1412 Baker Street in Great
Bend. In Larned, a blood drive will be hosted Feb. 17 at the
Knights of Columbus Hall, 1216 M Road, from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.