Opinions can be debated, facts cannot: one in seven people who enter the hospital need blood, cancer patients are the number one recipient of blood products, the blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before it is needed and less than 10 percent of the population eligible to donate blood does so annually.

Virginia Blood Services (VBS) – which is non profit and supplies the local hospitals in the community – held a Broadcasters for Blood event last Monday at its Lakeside Plaza Salem location to help improve those numbers.

“Broadcasters for Blood is an event that is sponsored by our local print, television and radio media. We were fortunate to have several sponsors this year,” Donor Services Manager Eric Thomas said. “It’s all about spreading awareness.”

“I work with businesses, churches, schools and really any organization to schedule blood drives throughout the year,” VBS Account Manager Wensday Tumulak said. “The most important aspect of my job is to educate new and existing donors, coordinators and anyone who will listen about the importance of blood donation.  If people are educated and understand why it is so important to donate blood then hopefully they will make the choice to give the gift of life.”

Joe Johnson participated in Monday’s blood drive. “Donating blood is one of the most selfless things that someone can do. I want to do my part in making a difference,” he said.

Kathryn Newman’s perspective on donating blood is different from most people. “I donate for my mom,” the VBS phlebotomist said. “I lost her to breast cancer, so I understand how beneficial donating blood is.”

Roanoke County resident Kay White said she couldn’t make it to the VBS building to support the Broadcasters for Blood event but once again will be donating her blood in the foreseeable future. “When you actually look at the number of people who actually donate, it’s devastatingly low,” she said. “I’m going to do what I can to bring awareness to this very serious issue.”

Virginia Blood Services needs to collect an average of 400 units per day just to maintain the hospitals that they supply. “If someone has received a blood product they need to tell everyone their story. When someone has cancer, they fight for the cause, have fundraisers, sell shirts, tell people to go get screened and more,” Wensday said. “Yet when someone is a blood recipient they don’t tell anyone…unless it is at a blood drive.”

There are some health benefits to donating blood. Typically, donors receive a mini physical to check their pulse, blood pressure, hemoglobin and body temperature. “For information on everything to do with donating blood, people can visitvablood.org,” Donor Services Supervisor Richard Gray said.