| Did you know blood & Platelet donations are | | | | usually they can buy trailers, ice, food, blankets to |
| a huge part of emergency preparedness? Most | | | | provide for an affected community, but they can |
| people do not make the correlation between | | | | not buy blood and platelets or replace a needed |
| emergency preparedness and blood supply. During | | | | supply. Only the community itself can provide a |
| any disaster natural or man made, many people | | | | well stocked supply by donating blood & |
| often suffer life threatening injuries that require | | | | platelets on a regular basis, by holding blood drives |
| the need for blood transfusions. Keeping an | | | | within our communities and getting the word out |
| adequate supply of blood & platelets on hand | | | | about making the correlation between blood |
| is already a challenge on a daily basis. There are | | | | supply and emergency preparedness. This is why |
| daily occurrences that constantly draw on supplies | | | | I have been working diligently to get disaster |
| such as premature births, illness, traumatic | | | | preparedness organizations to implement this |
| accidents and research - just to name a few. | | | | information into their literature and public |
| Having an adequate supply of blood immediately | | | | announcements. |
| after a major disaster is not likely. Many people | | | | Often people assume that hospitals will have the |
| will come together AFTER a disaster to donate. It | | | | blood type they need on hand. How can we be |
| takes days to process blood & platelets | | | | sure that there will be an adequate blood supply |
| before it can be utilized, many victims of disaster | | | | available BEFORE the next major disaster? There |
| often don't have days to wait and their lives can | | | | are a few answers to this question: Donate |
| be lost without an adequate supply of blood. | | | | regularly and teacher your children early on about |
| Many people have prepared their family and | | | | the importance of blood donations. |
| themselves for a disaster by creating a family | | | | I remember going with my mother as a young |
| plan, keeping a Go Bag or home emergency kit | | | | teenager and watching her donate. I was able to |
| on hand. Often when people prepare for a | | | | ask her many questions and what she could not |
| disaster, a vacation or even just a trip to the | | | | answer the person drawing her blood could. This |
| grocery store they check their supplies to assure | | | | was a wonderful experience for me as I grew |
| themselves they will have everything they need | | | | into an adult I had no fears about donating blood. I |
| on hand, but very few people realize that blood | | | | was excited to donate my first time and went on |
| & platelets are also a needed supply that | | | | to hold blood drives within my community. |
| should be well stocked. | | | | Contact your local American Red Cross and |
| After a major disaster the Government may be | | | | donate today. |
| able to provide some supplies after a disaster, | | | | |