The San Pedro Belize Red Cross is working hard to increase the blood supply kept on reserve at the Blood Bank in Belize. This blood is available in case of an emergency for locals and tourists of Ambergris Caye. Read the full story about our Recent Blood emergency and how we worked as a team to save a life.
Most recently, San Pedro Red Cross had an extreme blood emergency where someone experiencing liver failure was flown to Belize City and required five pints of blood immediately. It was not an easy task to assist the patient as the blood bank closes at 3:00pm on Fridays and does not reopen till Monday. With teamwork and fast action, the San Pedro Red Cross was able to save a life.
San Pedro Red Cross latest Blood Drive Promotional Video: Click HERE to View.
You Can Help by Donating Blood
“What if someone you loved needed blood and it wasn’t there?”
San Pedro Belize Red Cross is working hard to increase its blood supply for locals and tourists of Ambergris Caye. Join the San Pedro Red Cross, Cancer Society and the Belize Blood Bank for their blood drive Saturday, November 8, 2014, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at San Carlos Medical on Middle Street. The blood drive is sponsored by DigiCell and Tropic Air.
Donating blood is a simple process that can save lives. When preparing for donating blood, think RED:
Rest and get a good night’s sleep.
Eat a good breakfast with foods high in iron.
Drink plenty of healthy fluids starting the day before you donate.
Following a short screening process, the donation itself is only about 8-10 minutes on average. A single unit of blood (475ml or 1 pint) taken during a donation which is about 8-10% of the total in your system. Your body keeps on replenishing blood all the time whether you give blood or not, so this amount is quickly replaced.
After you donate, the blood is then delivered to Belize City by Blood Services and equally allocated there for use by Ambergris Caye.
Interesting Blood Facts
* Five percent of hospitalized patients require blood with the average person requiring about three pints.
* Four main red blood cell types: A, B, AB and O. Each can be positive or negative for the Rh factor. AB is the universal recipient; O negative is the universal donor of red blood cells.
* Whole blood is made of several components that can be transfused separately or together to treat various conditions:
* Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues and remove carbon dioxide through the lungs.
White blood cells protect the body from infection. (They also, however, can carry viruses and bacteria—which is why they are removed from donated blood.)
* Platelets provide the basis for clotting, which helps control bleeding.
* Plasma is a liquid containing proteins that help fight infection and assist clotting. Plasma distributes nutrients to tissues and transports waste products to the lungs, liver and kidneys.
Please help The San Pedro Red Cross reach its goal of 100 pints; your gift of blood can save a life.
