By Cheryl Kortemeier, Executive Director, Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta
Many Metro Atlanta companies host blood drives for the American Red Cross each year. According to American Red Cross of Atlanta Board Chair, Todd Brown, “A workplace Red Cross blood drive not only helps save hundreds of lives, but it also helps build goodwill and brings associates together in a spirit of teamwork to help others.”
But once the donations are made, where does the blood go?
Corporate social impact leaders from the Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC) found out this month, thanks to a behind-the-scenes tour of the American Red Cross of Georgia’s Douglasville Biomedical Center. American Red Cross of Georgia Regional Philanthropy Officer, Joseph Vella, and Biomedical Center ambassador, Antonio Ellis, provided a comprehensive overview of the facility as well as the organization’s “Blood Saves Lives” programming including their Sickle Cell Initiative, Cancer Initiative, and Blood Management Systems. Participants also learned a few fun facts about this specialized facility and the American Red Cross:
>The American Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton. March is not only Women’s History Month, but it is also American Red Cross Month. So we have two reasons to celebrate Ms. Barton’s legacy!
>The American Red Cross provides more than 41% of the nation’s blood supply.
>Metro Atlanta’s Biomedical Center is the second largest in the nation and is the size of 6 football fields.
>The Biomedical Center supports blood product processing and distribution for Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
>The science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals employed at the Center are cross trained to ensure that the facility is able to operate 24/7/365.
All donations made through the American Red Cross and processed at the Biomedical Center are safety tested multiple times and kept sealed and sterile from donor to recipient. Upon arrival at the Biomedical Center, donations are tested more than a dozen times to determine blood type and to ensure that no infectious diseases or deficiencies are present. Blood is then separated into red cells, plasma, and platelets using a centrifuge, because each blood component is suitable for different patient needs. White blood cells are filtered out and discarded, as they sometimes cause negative transfusion reactions. Aside from the centrifuge, the majority of the blood processing cycle is handled manually relying on hand-operated presses, gravity, and time. This underscores the vital importance of having highly trained, skilled STEM professionals guiding the process.
If your business is considering ways to enhance its social impact strategy, hosting a workplace blood drive is a meaningful place to start. Hosting allows employees to support the greater community whether they are volunteering to help with the drive, donating, or both. And if your business is not able to host, encouraging employees to give at nearby donation locations also goes a long way. You never know who will need blood next: your colleagues, your family members, or yourself. Together, we can ensure that the vital resource of blood is available for those who need it most, when it is needed most.
