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Reprinted with permission from Lori Harrison, Messenger Staff Writer

Regional Medical Center blood bank came up short over the holidays.
"Basically, over the last 30 days, we've ... transfused 376 units of
blood," said blood bank director Bob Schaefer. "During that same
period, we only had 175 donors.



"Going back 30 days covers Christmas," he said.

The holiday season can be so busy that regular donors can't find the
time to give blood.

RMC, anticipating the shortage, held an employee blood drive during
the past two weeks.

"We'd like to get at least 100," Schaefer said Thursday.

Officials reached their goal. There were 101 employee donors and 19
non-RMC donors this week.

"If we're really short of blood, we get it from outside sources,"
Schaefer said. That includes the American Red Cross in Nashville and
Paducah and the Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center in Owensboro.

"They'll send it if they've got it," he said.

Schaefer wants community members to realize the importance of
donating blood.

"What we like to see is people coming on a regular basis to give
blood," he said. "When there's an acute need it takes a couple of
days to come, have blood drawn and get the blood tested for
transfusion."

The mobile unit usually draws the most donors during visits to
schools and businesses. Next month, for example, blood drives are
scheduled at GE, Hopkins County Central High School and Madisonville-
North Hopkins High School.

"The high schools are good sources of donors," Schaefer said, with
close to 100 units given at each site.

RMC respiratory therapist Joel Hunt contributed to the employee blood
drive Thursday.

He said he gives blood "not as often as I should," but at least twice
a year.

"My wife has a bleeding disorder," Hunt said. "She's had numerous
surgeries. She's had to have transfusions on several occasions."

He also works with patients who need blood transfusions.

"I see every day how important it is," Hunt said. "We see people who
need transfusions just to live. It's a desperate problem in the whole
country. There are never enough donors."

Donors can give blood every 56 days.

New donors are welcome, Schaefer said.

"We'd love to have them," he said. "People can walk in. They can call."

To reach the blood bank, call 825-5150.

"Once you get people in here and they get over the initial fear, they
understand it's not a big deal," Schaefer said.

Giving blood is also a way people can help others without spending
money.

"Blood does a lot for people," Schaefer said. "There's no substitute.
It makes the difference in life and death."

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