FROM THE PRESIDENT

Every day, blood and blood components are necessary to keep Texas Medical Center hospitals up and running. On any given day, a total of 2,000 units are used. It doesn’t take long to realize how quickly this supply can be exhausted.

For example, a trauma patient can use several hundred units while in the emergency room; a bleeding ulcer can use as much as 30 units; cardiovascular surgery will use anywhere from two to 25 units; and a liver transplant patient may require as many as 200 units.

In just one week, a major medical center, such as our own, will transfuse 508 units of red blood cells, 401 units of plasma and 576 units of platelets. Beneficiaries of these procedures may include approximately 125 adults, 10 children and 10 infants. In total, Texas Medical Center facilities account for about 55 percent of red blood cell usage, with the rest going to other area hospitals.

Currently we are facing a critical blood shortage – one of the most critical in our history. The consequences of a blood supply shortage are that elective surgeries may have to be postponed, and emergency trauma care and other large blood-using procedures may be compromised. This situation is unacceptable. We are in great need of community support to help bring the blood supply to an acceptable level.

Every day people just like you save thousands of lives simply by donating a unit of blood and 45 minutes of time. But we need more participation. Blood levels are so low, that in order to maintain an acceptable level, without any surplus, 800 units are needed every day in the Greater Houston area. As the need grows, the potential donor pool decreases with each new test required and each new restriction imposed. Approximately a dozen tests are performed on every unit of blood collected. New "mad cow" disease restrictions that became effective in April have ruled out even more possible donors. These increasing numbers of tests and restrictions are meant to protect the nation’s blood supply. But due to these guidelines, we now need to make the extra effort to reach out to new donors and encourage them to become regular, repeat donors every eight weeks. The need for blood and blood components is a year-round, daily effort.

The Texas Medical Center community can potentially make a great impact on this grave situation. With 61,041 employees, 16,547 students and 140,000 visitors, imagine the difference it would make if everyone donated just one unit. Every drop is life giving. Remember – it may be you or a loved one who depends on an adequate blood supply.

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/08_15_02/page_21.html