WEST READING, Pa. \u2014 When someone arrives here after a serious crash, every second matters. And so does every unit of blood.<\/p>\n
“This time of year, especially whenever really bad traumas come in through the door that sometimes require 10, 20, 30 units of blood to save their life,” said Dr. Tom Geng, chair of the Department of Surgery at Reading Hospital.<\/p>\n
That’s why Reading Hospital is preparing for an emergency blood drive Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Clock Tower entrance.<\/p>\n
To better understand the need, 69 News spoke with Dr. Tom Geng, a trauma surgeon at Reading Hospital. He says recent trauma cases have already put extra pressure on the blood supply.<\/p>\n
“We’re fine right now. We can take care of people who come through the door. But if we were to get a couple of very acute patients that require lots of blood, it would deplete our supply to a super critical level,” Geng said.<\/p>\n
And this isn’t just about trauma patients.<\/p>\n
“3,000 patients a year get some type of blood transfusion. The Cancer Infusion Center… something like over 90 percent of patients that get chemotherapy at some point need some blood product,” he said.<\/p>\n
Hospital employees are already rolling up their sleeves, including Dr. Geng, and now they’re asking the community to do the same.<\/p>\n
“I started back up giving blood several years ago. And I go every eight weeks and give blood. It’s really convenient that Miller Keystone brings their crew here to the hospital,” Geng said.<\/p>\n