Tonight, yet another Belizean could be taking to social media to ask for a blood donation for either themselves or a family member. It's a desperate request that's become more common and that no one should ever have to make. And it came to the forefront of social consciousness two weeks ago when the family of a soldier injured in the line of duty felt they had no choice but to beg for blood.
And, according to the Belize Blood Bank Blood is everyone's business, an act of solidarity that every healthy member of society should consider at least once in their lives. And in the wake of the pandemic when blood stores had been at an all-time low, new donors and voluntary donors are very much needed.
Our 7 News stopped into the blood bank yesterday to find out how the two-person team that works there keep Belize's stores sufficiently stocked. Cherisse Halsall has that story:
Ever thought of becoming a blood donor?
All it takes is a visit to your local blood bank and at least some level of comfort with a needle.
It's become something of a practice for National Volleyball player Shane Gentle and yesterday we followed him through a donation that he was making for a friend. He told us how the first time he made a donation for a friend made him a lifer:
Shane Gentle, Blood Donor
"Well, for me that experience was it was soothing and comfortable to help by whatever means you can so if giving blood is helping others then. Even for those who don't request but I just come and give blood it helps those that need blood and can't find anyone to give blood for them so the blood is already here so they can just make that request from the blood bank itself. I made that decision to assist a friend in need and I've always made that decision once any one of my friends needed a blood donation and I'm the blood type that they need and I can give then I give, if I've recently given then I know I can't give again but I am able to do so."
And blood has been a topic of interest for a few weeks now, since a BDF private and his family found themselves taking to Facebook to request blood for a much-needed surgery.
Reporter
"There has been a lot of alarm raised on social media since the incident with private Martells, asking for blood for surgery. Is it that there is a shortage? Why is it that Belizeans have to be on social media asking for blood as if they are doing a buy and sell trade? That's really what has people concerned."
Ronald Stuart, President, Belize Blood Donors Volunteer Association
"The situation with that particular instance that you mentioned just now, the officer of the BDF is that having a rare blood type or the negatives, the negatives are a small portion of the population just the opposite O+ is the largest donor group in the country and the world for that matter. It's not that there is a shortage but simply that we need to manage what we have and we can only or we only have what we receive from the two sources either voluntary or replacement donors."
But according to the blood bank volunteers are currently at only 8% of the total collection, even though they are meant to be the backbone of this essential and lifesaving service.
Ronald Stuart, President, Belize Blood Donors Volunteer Association
"We need to have members of the public understand that you are responsible to give when you can. Far too often persons have little idea or consideration of a need until it exists or when it comes to be your situation. I am a volunteer donor for the past, well it's my 27th year and I look forward to doing so because I cannot say exactly who I have helped over these past years but it is something that I do because I feel that I am able to help."
And it need not be a completely selfless act. Blood Bank supervisor Adrian Martinez says your donations build credit and mean that if you are ever in need, blood would be virtually guaranteed to be provided to you.
But despite the fact that a blood donation is required for each person admitted to any hospital public or private countrywide, the problem of blood requests online doesn't seem to be going away. We asked Martinez if that perceived shortcoming affects him?
Reporter
"When you see people on social media requesting blood, how does it make you feel?"
Adrian Martinez, Blood Bank Supervisor
"Well, honestly sometimes I do understand them, however, like what I said sometimes this information because before they go to social media the blood bank has already go that information and is trying to help the relatives. We do call the KHMH and try to see what is going on and then we try to coordinate and if we have one unit of blood to help the relatives or help the patient we will call them and we will coordinate so that they can give them."
After seeing Shane donate, I wanted to follow through on a longtime inkling to make my own donation.
And despite a childhood fear of needles. I was able to look away just long enough for them to give me a much big jab than the one we all got during the pandemic.
And got to relax while a whole unit of blood was filled up. I'm told this one donation will be able to help at least three people, and I have to say that feels pretty good.
While at the bank we also learned that platelets, a much-needed bi-product of blood is in constant demand as they can only be manufactured by fresh blood. Martinez says this phenomenon only adds to the perception of shortages at the blood bank because manufactured platelets are only viable for 5 days after the initial donation and that's tricky because the availability of the blood has to coincide with its availability.
