January 19, 2001

Phil Evans of Peabody, who has donated 256 units of whole blood in his lifetime, remembers the days when he started donating blood. The first time was in June 1944, when he was in the military, stationed in England. Seven years later during the Korean War, Evans was asked to donate blood to save the life of a sailor who had just lost his leg.

Following military service, Evans volunteered for the American Red Cross, where he served for 25 years. He chaired the Peabody chapter of the organization and helped establish the first Northeast Blood Donor Station there in 1967.

Last year when his wife was undergoing heart surgery at the MGH, Evans wanted to give back to the hospital that saved her life. He offered to donate blood and worked with the staff of the MGH Blood Donor Center to ensure he was in good health to donate, since he was 75 years old at the time. He later agreed to become a platelet donor and has been one ever since. He is one of many donors celebrated during National Blood Donation Month.

Donating blood platelets takes between two and two and a half hours because it is more complicated than donating whole blood. During the procedure — called apheresis — whole blood is drawn from the donor's arm. Platelets then are separated from the blood, and the remaining blood products, such as red cells and plasma, are returned to the donor through the other arm.

"Platelets are very important in treating people with cancer, leukemia, sickle cell anemia and to patients undergoing chemotherapy," says Kim Cronin of the MGH Blood Donor Center.

Bob Erickson of Eastham, another platelet donor, also remembers his first time donating. He was sitting in the refreshment room in the MGH Blood Donor Center, waiting to donate whole blood when he saw a pamphlet that said, "Why Not Become a Platelet Donor?"

That pamphlet convinced him. Ten years later, he continues to donate platelets as often as allowed by Federal Drug Administration regulations — 24 times a year. During the winter months when Erickson is in Naples, Fla., he donates platelets at a local hospital.

With January designated as National Blood Donation Month, Cronin and the MGH Blood Donor Center staff encourage MGHers to consider donating blood or platelets to help MGH patients. "Medical technology really has skyrocketed," she says. "There are more transplants and more aggressive treatments for cancer and other diseases. Therefore, there is an increased need for platelets and whole blood. We collect anywhere from 15,000 to 16,000 units of blood components a year. However, we transfuse approximately 70,000 units a year, so we must turn to other resources such as other blood collection agencies and our own employee donor base to help us meet our patients' needs."

Below are things to remember before donating blood or platelets:

• Eat normally. Don't skip breakfast.

• Increase your fluid intake — especially water.

• Do not take aspirin products for 72 hours or ibuprofen for 24 hours before donating blood platelets.

• Donors should be in good health with no active colds or sore throats.

• Donors must be at least 18 years of age and weigh 100 pounds or more.

• Donors must not have had body piercing, tattooing, acupuncture or electrolysis within the past year.

When asked why they continue to give blood regularly, both Evans and Erickson concur, "It makes you feel good, and you save lives."

The MGH Blood Donor Center, located on Gray 1, is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Hours for donating platelets are Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8:30 am to 3 pm; and Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 am to 5 pm. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 724-9699.