The Lifesaving Impact of Blood Donations at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital 

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion, according to the American Red Cross.

Last year, Dignity Health St. Elizabeth Community Hospital transfused 610 units of blood – saving hundreds of lives, a poignant reminder of the critical impact each of us can have on the lives of others simply by providing a lifesaving resource through blood donation. A single blood donation can be split into various components so that up to four different patients can benefit from a single donation.

St. Elizabeth Community Hospital is a Level III Trauma Center, providing all the necessary support services and equipment to care for seriously injured trauma patients on a 24-hour basis. Of the 610 units transfused last year, 80 units were used for trauma patients. St. Elizabeth Community Hospital works closely with its sister facility, Mercy Medical Center Redding, a Level II Trauma Center, with over 4,600 units of blood transfused last year.

Serving such a large geographic area, our care team fights hard every day to save lives and treat all those who come through our door, but without blood donations, lifesaving treatments and surgeries cannot be performed.

Blood donations are a critical component of a trauma center as they directly impact the ability to provide timely and effective care to those with traumatic injuries. Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in America. This is especially crucial during winter months when blood donations often decline significantly due to seasonal illnesses and weather conditions, raising concern for hospitals that may be seeing increases in emergencies and surgeries.

St. Elizabeth Community Hospital has a blood donation drive for employees every two months. Approximately 110 units of blood were collected last year during the blood drives.

Many donors are repeat blood donors, but donating for the first time may be scary for some. Whether you are a regular or first-time donor, there are some steps you can take to ensure an easy and comfortable donation experience. Before you donate, have a healthy meal before your visit with iron-rich foods, such as red meat, fish, poultry, beans, spinach, or raisins, and drink an extra 16 ounces of water or another non-alcoholic drink before your appointment. At your appointment, be sure to share any medications or medical conditions with the technician and be comfortable letting them know if you have any concerns. Bringing a book or music along can help the time pass more quickly and provide a distraction if you are nervous. Following your donation, be sure to take it easy and avoid strenuous activity for the rest of the day, eat a healthy iron rich snack, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid alcohol for the next 24 hours.

At Dignity Health, we recognize the critical role that blood donors play in ensuring the well-being of our communities and the impact their donations have on the lives of our patients. Please consider making what could be a life-saving difference by donating blood. These donations ensure a safer and healthier future for everyone.

About the Author

Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.