By Mallory Campbell, Special to the Journal
Pellissippi State Community College is hosting a blood drive on September 17 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Hardin Valley Campus. Donors should look for the large bus in the parking lot, courtesy of MEDIC Regional Blood Donation Center, which is one of the main organizations that makes this possible.
When residents donate locally through MEDIC, it’s supplied to the hospitals in the area, so it stays local, meaning your donations could save a neighbor, friend, or family member! The process is simple, typically only taking 30-45 minutes to complete, and every donation made has the potential to help save a life.
In healthcare, blood for transfusions can be used for many things such as trauma, surgeries, and even the continuation of care. Hospitals are reliant on blood donations because blood cannot be manufactured, only given. This is why it is so important to give back to the community by attending these local drives.
Experts agree that local blood drives are a vital part of supporting local hospitals and patients in need, and these events are one of the easiest ways to give back to the community. Not only do blood drives save lives, but they also bring people together in support of one cause by giving back those donations to the community.
MEDIC hosts mobile drives to places around the Knox County community. Many students have probably seen the MEDIC bus outside Pellissippi State, without even thinking about how much of a difference one donation can make. I remember when MEDIC would even come to my high school to make it convenient for faculty, not just students, to donate. Bringing the local drives to people instead of making people travel to a blood donation site makes a huge difference and gives people a chance to donate who may not have the time or transportation to visit the center. Pellissippi State Community College partners with MEDIC to host blood drives on campus every year.
One misconception about MEDIC or other blood donation centers is that many people associate it with only volunteer donations. Blood donation centers provide other services such as therapeutic donations, which are deemed medically necessary by a provider. The clinic I work for actually refers our patients to MEDIC for therapeutic phlebotomy when they have too high a hematocrit level. It helps treat lifelong conditions that can cause the body to have too many red blood cells or absorb too much iron. These kinds of treatments prevent blood clots and other life-threatening reactions. Sending these referrals has given me a deeper appreciation for MEDIC and other organizations like it because they support both the hospitals and the patients, while giving local residents convenient access to medically necessary help.
Since the need for blood only increases as time goes on, blood drives, such as the upcoming MEDIC event, continue to be an important source for all hospitals. To simplify the process, MEDIC offers a mobile donation map on their website, which tells donors where and when current or upcoming mobile MEDIC blood drives will be. Offering these services is what makes donating blood easily accessible for people who otherwise may not have the availability to go to the physical blood donation centers. Being a participant in these local blood drives is a meaningful way to support local hospitals while increasing the local blood supplies for medical emergencies. So if you’re at Hardin Valley Campus on September 17, consider donating; in just 30 minutes, you could help save a life in your community.
