ST. LOUIS — American Red Cross officials are turning to technology to rally blood donors, this summer. They are using the organization’s donor app to keep people connected to their blood journey.
Joe Pereles showed 5 On Your Side his profile on the American Red Cross blood donor app.
“My platelet donation is going to the V.A. Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky,” Pereles said. “Here’s the map where it shows where my last three donations went across the country.”
Pereles is a long-time donor.
“I am,” he said. “More than 40 years.”
Does he have any idea how many units of blood he has donated?
“185,” he replied, without hesitation.
“The need for blood is constant,” said Beth Elders, executive director of American Red Cross-Greater St. Louis.
Elders said the information available on the app - about blood type and donation destination - is designed to encourage people to donate blood as often as they are able, this summer, and beyond.
“Every 56 days,” said Elders, to be specific. “You’re eligible to give those whole blood units every 56 days.”
Blood donors said access to that information made an impression on them.
“It did,” Pereles said. “They tell me not only where my blood is going, but what my vital signs are. It’s a little mini-physical you receive after each donation, so you can catch up with what’s going on with yourself.”
Elders said, “You may never know the name of the person your blood went to, but you’ve got that emotional connection that your blood went to a place that was then used to help impact someone’s life.”
Blood donor Jennifer McGrath opened up the blood donor app and showed 5 On Your Side her profile.
“Memphis,” she said, reading an entry on the app. “The most recent donation ended up at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.”
McGrath has tracked her blood donations far and near.
“If you look at this donation, for instance, it went to Barnes Jewish, here in St. Louis. I think it’s interesting to know because then it feels real - your blood really did go somewhere. It didn’t just get put on a shelf. You know it’s going to a patient, somewhere.”
American Red Cross officials are reminding people their donated blood, and their generosity travel well, together.
The blood donor app is available via Google Play and the Apple App Store.
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