Evening star., 1955-07-28
Blood Needed

In LueSe Gays Oh LTOuDleQ
peace-when sickness, acci-
dents and natural disasters
take their awful toll Of human
life-there has been a never
ceasing demand for life-giv-
ing blood and blood plasma.
The Red Cross has never fall
tered in its efforts to supply
this magic formula, through
acting as an Intermediary be-
tween donor and patient.
Blood. besides aiding our
armed forces, has saved the
lives of many civilians; men,
women and children. Blood
has been given freely by all
who desire to help, offering the
red liquid from their life
stream; liquid which. through
the marvels of medical science.
has been successfully injected
into the veins of those who
would perish without it.
In wartime, people hocked
to the blood donor stations.
eager and enthusiastic in their
patriotism. In peacetime, there
has developed a dangerous
apathy and lack of effort to
give.
I am writing as one who has
given blood, but, having
reached the cruel age of so. is
no longer eligible as a donor.
Having donated always in
Montgomery County, I can
truly say that there has never
been the slightest pain, or
after-effect, resulting from ex-
pert extraction of blood. I have
worn proudly the little pins
given to donors-always de-
lighting in explaining to ques-
TONERS what they signify.
1t is a matter of grave con-
Germ to hear and read of the
dangerous drop in the amount
of blood collected in Mont
gomery County. and elsewhere.
1t is far below the quota which
is considered necessary for the
blood banks, and to justify the
expense and labor of a visit
Of the bloodmobile. For even
with the willing help of many
volunteers, every bloodrnobile
must have its professional staff
of doctors, nurses and techni-
clans; its equipment, etc.
One reads, with alarm, in
the Record of Montgomery
County: "At recent bloodmo-
bile visit at the Damascus fire
house, only 54 bottles were col
lected. This fell far short of
the 144 pints quota"
Those volunteers who spend
hundreds of hours on the tele-
phone at Montgomery County
Chapter house-calling pros
pective donors in a heroic ef-
fort to meet the quota-admit
that there is one thing more
discouraging than an unfavor-
able answer; that is an ap-
pointment made and not kept.
Such an incident, besides the
disappointment of losing the
donation, does not allow time
to get a substitute. There have
been lulls in a session when
the volunteers roll back the
sleeves of their Red Cross uni
forms and take time off duty
to double as donors. At one of
the largest planned activities
Of the bloodmobile, 255 donors
were scheduled. OF this num-
ber. only 155 kept the appoint
ment; and only Is telephoned
to explain the inability to
come. If there had not been
some "drop-ins" who came
without appointments. it would
have been a sorry day indeed.
One of the greatest prob
lens in Montgomery County
is the replacement of blood
given by the Red Cross to ci-
villains. The Record says: Dur
ing the period from January
/, 1855. to May /, 1855, Mont
gomery County's three hospi-
tals-Washington Sanitarium,
Suburban. and Montgomery
General-used 893 pints Of
free blood. Only 80 pints have
been donated to replace them.
The balance of 803 pints still
must be collected. If some of
the relatives and/o friends of
persons who have received free
blood at these hospitals would
make appointments and re-
place this blood, it would help
build up the blood bank. Red
Cross officials report that nee
essary operations are being
postponed due to this blood
shortage"
Our bloodmobile. with its
expert doctors, nurses, and
technicians; its fine equip
ment; its group of gracious
volunteers, who greet donors
and register them - serve
orange juice, coffee and dough-
nuts. and do everything pos
eih1o tA aw,1ra.r thn ~nv1rnnin