17 Donations, 51 Lives Impacted

It took less than an hour out of each donor’s day, but the impact from a recent blood drive at the White County Justice Center could reach dozens of patients in need.

A blood drive organized by the White County Sheriff’s Department collected 17 units of blood, an amount that could help save as many as 51 lives. Captain Nate Theiss said the results were a success, especially during a time of year when collecting blood donations can become more difficult.

“I am pleased to share the final results from yesterday's blood drive at the Justice Center. We successfully collected 17 units, which translates to 51 lives saved!” Theiss said.

While the number of donations may seem small, blood centers across the country rely on individual donors and community blood drives to maintain the supply needed by hospitals. According to national blood donation statistics, someone in the United States needs blood approximately every two seconds, but only a small percentage of those eligible to donate blood do so each year.

Each unit collected represents an opportunity to help someone during a critical moment. Blood donated through community drives can be used for accident victims, surgery patients, those undergoing cancer treatment, and others who depend on donated blood. Because one donation can be separated into different components, one donor has the opportunity to help multiple people.

Blood collection organizations also note that summer can be one of the more challenging times of the year for donations. Vacations, school breaks, and changes in normal routines often decrease donor participation, while the need for blood remains constant - or even higher. With summer activities putting more people on the roadways and waterways, the potential for accidents requiring critical care is higher this time of year.

“This is an incredible achievement, especially considering how challenging collections can be during the summer months,” Theiss said. “Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this success!”

The White County Sheriff’s Department plans to continue partnering with Blood Assurance to provide donation opportunities for the community.

The next blood drive originally scheduled for late August has been canceled by Blood Assurance because of staffing needs elsewhere. The next opportunity to donate at the Justice Center is now scheduled for Oct. 26.