As a member of a hospital transplant team in Central Pennsylvania, Tiffany Conroy knows how crucial blood donations are to patients.
“With my experience working as an emergency room technician and working as a nurse, it’s very important. It’s needed in emergency situations,” Conroy said.
She admitted she has not donated as often as she could, especially because she has type O blood.
“I was much better before having kids!” Conroy said.
There is a constant need for all blood types, but the demand is often higher for types O and B blood. Type O positive blood is the most transfused blood type. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to patients of any other blood type. African American and Latino populations have a higher frequency of type O blood than other ethnicities.
Conroy, who is Puerto Rican, said she began donating blood when she turned 18 and has donated about 10 times since then. Now, she is making it her goal to increase that number and encourage other Latinos to give the gift of life. Conroy believes fear may be a driving force behind a lack of blood donations.
“People are so afraid of pain. It doesn’t hurt! And after donating blood, you’re not going to be ill. You get some snacks and hydrate,” Conroy said. “Our bodies are constantly remaking blood cells. It doesn’t impact you in any way. Our community doesn’t always see or hear that maybe.”
Conroy said she marked off days on her calendar as a reminder to give blood.
"The pandemic has made me more self-aware about helping others," Conroy said. "I want to be better about doing it more frequently."
Did you know: You can donate whole blood as often as every 56 days up to 6 times a year! Make an appointment to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
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