November 3, very early in National Science and Technology Month was a ‘red letter day’ for Jamaica’s management of emergency blood supplies.

It’s no secret that blood donations save lives.

What is perhaps not as well-known is the many ways in which blood transfusions become necessary. It’s much more than emergency cases such as accidents or gruesome acts of violence. Clinically stored blood is pressed into use in the treatment of a range of chronic conditions and several surgical procedures.

 According to the US-based NGO ‘One Blood’, every two seconds of every day, someone needs blood. Since blood cannot be manufactured outside the body and has a limited shelf life, the issue is not just volume, but a steady flow of ‘just in time inventory’. The only practical way to fill this constant rolling need is through the active engagement of volunteer donors who can fulfill the need to save members of our human community, ‘one drop at a time’.

Founded in 1948 the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is the agency responsible for marshalling this precious resource in Jamaica.

In keeping with its core principle of supporting and protecting lives, the Guardian Life Foundation has partnered with the NBTS for more than 20 years mount a robust blood collection drive every year, under the theme ‘Save a Life - One Drop at a Time.’ 

Then came the global Achilles heel of COVID-19 with the ravages of the pandemic severely undermining the delivery of health and human services. The last Guardian/NBTS blood drive was therefore held in 2018.

With the coast now clear and the need for blood supplies predictably high, Guardian Foundation and the NBTS resuscitated the joint annual Blood Donation.

Guardian’s staff members, family and friends converged on their Trafalgar Road Corporate offices for a full working day operation to execute this life saving mission.

Team goals are best achieved in an atmosphere of camaraderie, hence the inclusion of incentives such as prizes for early arrival (internal and external donors by gender) and for those with rare blood types (AB & AB-)

The extended team included the Guardian Life sponsored Legacy Athletics team members who turned out in their numbers to support the Foundation’s Blood Drive.

At the end of the day, the outcomes justified the enthusiastic efforts of all involved. The NBTS registered 85 volunteers, with 58 of them being able to donate. It was an uptick of 45 percent from 2018 when 51 individuals registered, yielding 40 units of blood. 

 Each blood donation can potentially save up to three lives. By all measures therefore, the day was a life-saving success as a net of 40 units and over is considered a successful blood drive.

 You too can make a difference by donating blood or even organising a group to partner with the NBTS to boost this lifeline.

Contact at the Blood Transfusion Service:

Keishawna Pinnock (Miss)

Assistant Blood Donor Organizer

National Blood Transfusion Service

21 Slipe Pen Road, Kingston

“One love, One Blood, Partnership for Life”

Telephone: 630-1984, Cell: 317-8657