Inside Duke Medicine
A veteran blood donor on why he gives
posted March 23rd, 2010The Army made him do it! said William Hotelling.
Hotelling, a patient supply associate at Durham Regional Hospital, gave his first pint of blood more than 50 years ago as an Army recruit, and he’s been giving blood ever since – his Red Cross donor card records 57 units, but he’s sure the tally should be higher.
Considering that each pint of blood can help save up to three lives, Hotelling should be proud.
“I give blood because I’m able to, and because so many people are in need,” said the healthy septuagenarian.
Hotelling is such an old hand at the process that he naps while his blood trickles into the donation bag. But he gets animated when encouraging his hospital colleagues to give blood – watch the video above to hear why he thinks more people should donate.
Durham Regional has experienced a recent decline in donors, and has worked to implement several changes to help to improve participation. The hospital now schedules blood drives during afternoon hours, and has found that participation has increased slightly with this change.
Red Cross officials report that recent inclement weather caused an urgent need for eligible donors, especially with Type O-negative blood. This blood type is universal, and it is needed since the supplies are currently low because the weather has caused unexpected blood drive cancelations. The Red Cross also gave blood supplies for Haiti relief efforts.
- The next blood drive at Durham Regional Hospital is April 7, 2010 from 2-6 pm in the Hospital Conference Room.
- Duke Raleigh Hospital will hold its next blood drive April 14, 2010 from 1:30pm to 6pm.
- Sign up here to give blood at future blood drives at Duke University.