One of the things that make donating blood such an enjoyable experience is the opportunity to talk to the nurses who take care of me during the entire procedure. The first nurse went over my medical history with me. I found out she is from American Samoa and enjoys working for the Blood Bank. She has such a sweet personality that she made me feel happy that she was working for the Blood Bank, too.

The other nurse I talked to was relatively new, having been hired the previous month. She took care of me when the collection stopped. She removed the needle, took care of the bag and tubes, cleaned my arm and applied the bandage. Turns out she is a Castle High School grad and was graduated from a local college before working at the Blood Bank. She was very pleasant with a quick smile to make you feel good that you gave blood.

Afterward, I walked to the Blood Bank’s canteen and helped myself to a refreshing can of juice and a hot char siu manapua. Ono!

I am eligible to give again in July. I am looking forward to it!

In a nutshell, World Blood Donor Day marks the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel laureate who discovered the ABO blood group system. The website adds:

“The global theme for 2009 – “achieving 100 per cent non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components” — places a renewed emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supply. As more and more countries achieve the goal of 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated blood donation, there is growing appreciation of the vital role of voluntary donors who donate blood on a regular basis. Not only are they the safest blood donors, they are also the foundation of sustainable national blood supplies that are sufficient to meet the needs of all patients requiring blood and blood components.”

I appreciate that this esteemed international organization appreciates voluntary donors, who give to help others and not themselves. I agree that voluntary donors are the safest blood donors.

If you are a blood donor, mark June 14 as a day in your honor. It is truly deserved.

When you donate whole blood, your pint is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets. Cancer patients undergoing aggressive medical processes, such as  chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant, need platelet transfusions because those treatments can destroy platelets along with cancer cells. As a result, the patient is often in danger of severe bleeding. For such patients, platelet transfusions are their only hope for survival.

There is a special procedure in which a donor can give only platelets. This procedure produces, in one sitting, the equivalent amount of platelets collected in five to six whole blood donations. After the platelets are extracted, the rest of the blood is returned to the donor. And whereas a whole blood donor can only give every eight weeks, the platelet donor can give as soon as every two weeks.

The platelet donation procedure (commonly called “apheresis”) at the Blood Bank of Hawaii goes like this:

• Just as done by the whole blood donor, the platelet donor fills out a medical history questionnaire and receives a mini-physical exam.
• One arm is prepared and connected by a needle and tubes to a special blood cell separator machine. An anti-clotting agent is combined with the blood to keep it from clotting while being processed.
• A small amount of blood is taken from your vein and, after entering the machine, the platelets are separated for collection in a sterile plastic bag. The machine then pumps what remains of your blood back into your vein using the same tubes and needle. This cycle is repeated until the collection process is completed.
• The blood that returns to your vein is cold, so you will be wrapped in a blanket or two to keep you comfortable.
• The anti-clotting agent may make your lips and mouth tingle. If that happens, disclose it to the nurse and she will offer you some calcium (I like the chocolate chews) to counter the tingling.

Your time on the machine will vary based on your weight and platelet count, but the collection process normally takes from 60 to 90 minutes. The donation process if fully automated and carefully monitored by trained staff. With that amount of time on the machine and with so much attention from the staff, you will find yourself getting to know the nurses and becoming friends. They are always glad to see you and they are part of what makes your platelet donation such a satisfying experience.

When I first started donating platelets years ago, both arms had to be connected to the machine. One needle to withdraw the blood, the other to return the blood. It was forbidden to bend or move the arms. If your nose itched, you asked the nurse to scratch it. Some donors brought their Walkmans and, later, iPods to listen to music. A TV and VCR were available for you to watch a TV show or a movie on VHS tape.

Today, with the new machine that requires just one arm, your other arm is free to hold a magazine, use your cell phone or scratch whatever itches. You can still watch TV or view a movie on DVD. Just lie back, relax, and let the machine do all the work.

Times have changed and the equipment has changed. What has not changed is the constant need for platelets. Patients fighting cancer, kids undergoing surgery, moms giving birth and other people facing medical crises are counting on platelets to help save their lives. Considering a single platelet donation is equivalent to five to six whole blood donations, I hope you see how important it is to be a platelet donor. And by giving many more times than a whole blood donor, you can help save many more lives.

Now, imagine being a 17-year-old student who has to persuade other 17-year-old students to do just that!

Well, my hat is off to two 17-year-old seniors at McKinley High School who not only did that, but did it with such dedication today that the school surpassed the Blood Bank of Hawaii’s 30-pint goal by 6 pints, for a total of 36 pints!

I salute Tony Nguyen and Travis Coloma, who coordinated today’s blood drive at this public school. McKinley High has produced some of Hawaii’s most accomplished citizens, like U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye and former Hawaii Governor George Ariyoshi. Tony and Travis continue the schoolʻs proud tradition of producing outstanding young leaders.

“Japan’s most well-known blood donation mascot is Kenketsu-chan (”blood donation girl”), a little pixie with big shiny drops of blood for ears. Kenketsu-chan is the official blood donation mascot of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare…

“Kenketsu-chan’s ears shrink when she runs low on blood, but return to their original size when people donate. We also know that she comes from Tasuke Island (Help Island), which features a heart-shaped spring at its center. The spring shoots forth rainbows that carry Kenketsu-chan to wherever people need blood.”

Have fun by clicking here.

Get this:

• Last year, 43 high schools in Hawaii hosted 76 blood drives; and
• They donated 4,773 pints of blood, helping to save over 14,000 lives.
• The 4,773 pints accounted for 7 percent of the Blood Bank’s total collection.

The article spotlighted Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama, which collected 208 pints of blood in the 2007-08 school year. This was an amazing turnaround from the previous year’s total of 85 pints. And even more impressive, 152 donors were first-timers in the 2007-08 year.

But whether it’s a large drive or small, every pint counts so the Blood Bank acknowledged every school. As the Blood Bank stated:

“Young donors are increasingly important to the blood community as current donors — the World War II generation and baby boomers — will, at some point, become ineligible to donate.”

That’s an important point. As donors get older and become ineligible for health and other reasons, the younger generation will have to replace them. There’s no better time to start than at the earliest eligible age, which is 18 years (17 with a signed Blood Bank parent or legal guardian consent form).

Here are the 43 schools:

1. Aiea High School
2. Anuenue School
3. Baldwin High School
4. Campbell High School
5. Castle High School
6. Farrington High School
7. Hawaii Baptist Academy
8. Hawaii Preparatory Academy
9. Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy
10. Hilo High School
11. Iolani School
12. Kahuku High School
13. Kailua High School
14. Kaimuki High School
15. Kaiser High School
16. Kalaheo High School
17. Kalani High School
18. Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama
19. Kamehameha Schools-Maui
20. Kapaa High School
21. Kapolei High School
22. Kauai High School
23. Kealakehe High School
24. King Kekaulike High School
25. Le Jardin Academy
26. Leilehua High School
27. Maryknoll School
28. McKinley High School
29. Mid-Pacific Institute
30. Mililani High School
31. Moanalua High School
32. Nanakuli High & Intermediate School
33. Pearl City High School
34. Punahou School
35. Radford High School
36. Roosevelt High School
37. Sacred Hearts Academy
38. Saint Louis School
39. St. Andrew’s Priory School
40. Waiakea High School
41. Waialua High & Intermediate School
42. Waianae High School
43. Waipahu High School

I learned that Hawaii’s Lifesaver Clubs bring in more than half of the state’s blood supply. That alone told me how important these clubs are to the health and welfare of Hawaii’s patients.

If your employer has a Lifesaver Club, please consider participating. If your employer does not have a club, please consider asking the boss to contact the Blood Bank of Hawaii to start one. If ever Hawaii lost its Lifesaver Clubs, I cannot imagine the dire consequence for our hospitals and patients. We need more, not less, Lifesaver Clubs.

Thank you, Lifesaver Clubs and club members, for saving lives every day in Hawaii nei.

By Amy Bounds
Sunday, February 22, 2009

Virgil Olson, 76, talks about his experiences of giving blood since his high school years and the importance of saving lives Sunday. Olson will give his 400th donation Tuesday.

Virgil Olson began donating blood in high school, just like his dad and older brother.

Now, at 76, the modest Louisville resident is about to become the first Boulder County donor to give blood 400 times, for a total of about 50 gallons. He plans to give his 400th pint Tuesday at Bonfils Blood Center’s Boulder location — and has no intention of stopping after he reaches that milestone.

“I want to give as often as I can,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ve saved a few lives.”

He’s been opening a vein every two weeks since he retired in 1997. He gives plasma and platelets instead of whole blood, allowing him to donate more often.

While “whole” blood donors are restricted to donating six times a year, those who donate plasma and platelets can give up to 24 times a year. That kind of donation takes less of a toll because the red blood cells, which carry oxygen, are returned to the body.

Whole blood goes mainly to trauma victims, platelets to leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy and plasma to burn victims. All are in high demand, said Bonfils spokeswoman Julie Scott.

She said Olson’s Tuesday donation will make him only the 14th Bonfils donor in the state to reach the 400-donation mark.

“We’re just extremely proud to honor Virgil,” she said.

She said 110,000 people donate blood to Bonfils each year, but about 60 percent of those only give once a year. If each of those people gave twice, she said, it would eliminate blood shortages.

“Stories like Virgil’s really serve to inspire other people,” she said.

Olson almost had to skip this Tuesday’s donation because of low iron levels. A finger prick to check his iron is done before each blood donation — if it’s too low, he can’t donate.

So he’s been eating lots of red meat, especially liver and onions, and taking iron supplements. But, just to make sure, he asked his doctor to test his levels last week. A nurse initially said a blood draw was a no go, but a follow-up call to the doctor confirmed that he can give plasma and platelets, just not whole blood.

“I’ve been shooting for this day the last few years and almost didn’t get to do it,” he said.

He’s become something of a blood donation crusader, talking up the importance of blood donations to family members, friends and pretty much everyone he meets.

While working at Coors, he convinced co-workers to participate in mobile blood drives with the enticement of a beer. He hasn’t had as much luck with his wife, who isn’t a fan of needles. But he’s got his son donating blood throughout the year, while his son-in-law has started donating every two weeks.

“He’s says he’s going to catch me, but I don’t think he will,” Olson said. “I’m pretty far ahead.”

He called the national statistic that only 4 percent of people donate blood “awful.” (NOTE: In Hawaii, only 2 percent of eligible people donate blood.)

“There’s nothing to it,” he said. “Once you do it and find out how easy it is, you get hooked.”

© 2006 Daily Camera and Boulder Publishing, LLC.