By Sanaya SinhaRoy

Living in a community where medical resources come to us easily, it is easy for us to take advantage of the incredible support, supplies and assistance we get in hospitals. But imagine if all of those resources weren’t available to us anymore. According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone is in need of blood. If blood was not accessible to those patients, they would lose the fight of their life.

Jennifer Shaw-Metz is an ICU nurse and works with variety of different injuries, ranging from illnesses like cancer and infections to traumatic injuries such as car accidents or falls. In her work, she witnesses the lifesaving work of blood donations.

Seeing the amount of blood that goes into saving patient lives, it’s upsetting to think about the prospect of a national blood shortage, like the one we experienced in January. Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause worker shortages and supply chain problems, resulting in ongoing delays and disruptions.

Jennifer wants to remedy the situation, even by a little. Here is what she said about her work as an ICU nurse and her take on donating blood.

Q: As an ICU nurse, how many people do you see weekly in need of blood donation?

A: In a given day, it is likely that at least one patient in our ICU is receiving a blood transfusion. They might be receiving 1 unit of blood product, or they could be receiving a mass transfusion of 20 or 30 or more units of blood products!

Q: What motivated you to donate blood?

A: I was well aware that the pandemic had created delays in healthcare and supply chain struggles in society. When I heard that blood products were also in short supply, I felt a very practical and clear tug on my heart that whispered: “If you have something that others need and you are able to share it, then you should do so,” and so I did.

Q: How did you feel after the first time you donated blood?

A: Physically I was surprised that I felt well- no signs of dizziness. Emotionally I was excited to know that I could be practically helpful in someones time of physical need. I had just learned that the Red Cross App would track my donation through the process, so I was also eager to learn where my blood would be sent.

Q: What do you think would happen if there was a national shortage of blood?

A: As an ICU nurse in the United States, I am aware that patients here have the luxury of available services that many others do not have. In many places in the world and during certain times or circumstances (like the pandemic), a patient may need a ventilator or a blood transfusion and a hospital may not have those to offer. But here in America, I am accustomed to seeing equipment, medications, procedures and blood readily available. The thought of NOT having a ventilator for a patient who needs it to live, or the thought of NOT having blood available when needed was morally distressing to me. A lack of available blood would certainly mean a cancer patient will lose the fight of their life. A lack of available blood would certainly mean that trauma patients will die unnecessarily from their injuries when we could have saved them. I have seen with my own eyes how blood products save or sustain life, and without the availability of blood products, someone’s wife or mother or child or friend or father will lose their life. 

Q: What advice would you give to people who are hesitant to donate blood?

A: I would encourage people to focus on the need of others above the difficulty for oneself. I have been needle-phobic all my life but I felt confident to take this step once I realized that giving a small amount of my day and a one time pinch could equal LIFE and HOPE for someone else, it really became an easy choice.

Q: Is there any additional information you would like to share?

A: For anyone donating for the first time I would encourage you to ask questions.  I asked a lot of questions about the process, and it helped me feel much more comfortable while I was at the donation center. Also, being able to track where my donation went was very meaningful for me- it gave a personal connection for me.

To learn more about the blood donation process or to schedule an appointment to donate blood, visit RedCrossBlood.org.