Reviewed by: Callie Morrison
Why this local has given blood 70 times with American Red Cross
Reading time: 4 minutes
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On January 7, the American Red Cross declared an emergency blood shortage, which means it’s more important than ever to become a donor. We spoke with one Birmingham resident who has donated blood 70 times to find out what it’s like, why it’s worth it and how you can give today.
Birmingham resident donates blood 70 times to the American Red Cross
Meet Pat Byington. You may recognize his name for the many breaking news stories he publishes for Bham Now. When he’s not chasing down the buzzy news around Birmingham, you can find Pat doing something amazing—donating blood with the American Red Cross.
If you know Pat—and you likely do if you live in Birmingham—you know his biggest and brightest quality is his love for helping others. One way he does this is by donating blood.
Growing up, Pat learned the importance of blood donation from his family—his sister who has currently been a nurse for more than 40 years as well as his uncle and cousins who were always active donors.
While Pat has been a prolific blood donor for years, he remembers his very first experience well, stating it was in college at The University of Alabama and was both really easy and incredibly empowering.
“It’s the best 30 minutes out of your day that you can take once every two months. After you’re done, you genuinely know you’ve done something good.”
Pat Byington, blood donor
Learn more about blood donation and become a donor with the American Red Cross.
What to expect when donating blood with the American Red Cross
If you’re like me, you want to know what to expect before walking into any situation. Pat gave me a quick rundown of what happens, and it really is easy. Here’s a quick look at what happens when you donate:
- Register: You will sign in, show an ID + be asked to read some required information.
- Health History + Mini-Physical: Answer some questions online or in a private interview, + receive a general health check.
- The Donation: You’ll be seated comfortably while one pint of blood is drawn. The actual donation only takes 8-10 minutes.
- Refreshment + Recovery: After donating, you can enjoy a snack + a drink for 10-15 minutes before resuming your day. The entire donation process takes about an hour.
Free snacks on top of knowing you did something good for others? That’s definitely a win-win.
“There are few things today that we all can do that help everybody. You may not know who your donation will help, but you know it’s going to do good and touch so many lives.
Every time you donate blood, you save 3 lives. I’ve given 70 times…times 3.”
Pat Byington, blood donor
American Red Cross declares emergency due to record low blood donations
The American Red Cross is currently under an emergency blood shortage with the lowest number of people giving blood in the last 20 years. But what exactly does this mean?
I spoke with Annette Rowland, Regional Director of Communications for the American Red Cross in Birmingham to learn more. One thing she told me is that due to recent severe weather, the American Red Cross had to cancel several blood drives in Alabama. This has led to the loss of over 100 blood donations.
While this number may not seem very big, this shortage is a huge concern for the American Red Cross.
Alabama requires about 350 blood donations each day to meet the needs of the 82 local hospitals the American Red Cross supplies. Local hospitals across the Greater Birmingham Area include UAB, Children’s Hospital and others. By not meeting supply needs, countless lives are lost.
How you can donate to the American Red Cross in Birmingham
Once you’ve decided to donate blood, the rest is simple. All you have to do is visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1.800.RED.CROSS or download the Blood Donor App to schedule your appointment today.
“The American Red Cross is the best. You know your donation is going to the people who need it most. They’re so professional and you just can’t beat ‘em.”
Pat Byington, blood donor
For more information about the American Red Cross, visit their website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
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