Coursing through your body right now is a simple substance that could save someone’s life, and that gift is needed more than ever from minority communities because the demand is simply greater than the supply.

At the second annual Blood Donor Diversity Summit held at Allen AME Cathedral, a panel of experts in the field of blood donations and transfusions addressed the challenges faced by minorities.

"It takes all of us working together and it’s okay to share that part of our bodies," said Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake, pastor of the cathedral and donor diversity chair of the New York Blood Center. "We need to go out and donate so that when the problem comes, people will be able to know that they have access to it," he added.

Rev. Calvin Butts, pastor of Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church, also wants to get the message out.

"For those of us in the Christian faith blood has a dual meaning for I know it was the blood [that was shed] for me. Giving blood is the first step in giving life. We all need to get involved — our schools our corporate leaders, our communities all have to be involved. And I’m here to
find out how I can get more involved and we address [the problem] by example. We also need the support of the corporate world," said Butts.

Robert Catell, chairman and CEO of KeySpan Energy, also attended and emphasized the need for donors.

"We have a very real need for blood, especially around the holiday period and in the summer," said Catell. "And people, especially in the corporate world, the religions and the community all need to get involved. Education is the most important part. Let people know and give the gift of life," he said.

According to the panel, there is a unique need for donations from African Americans and other ethnic groups due to special needs and rare blood types among many people in these communities.

According to Dr. Robert Jones, president and CEO of the New York Blood Bank, there is a shortage in the blood supply and they have to depend on "outside sources."

There is a higher demand in African American communities for non-surgery related transfusions due to the incidence of Sickle-Cell Anemia. Dr. Robert Jones, (ctr) president of NY Blood Center and Dr. K. Geoffrey Doughlin (far right) of Jamaica Hospital lead a panel of experts in the field of blood donation at Allen AME Church this week.

These outside sources, according to Jones, are not always compatible with the needs of African Americans, Hispanics and Asians. There is also a higher demand in the African American community for non-surgery-related transfusions due to the incidence of people with Sickle-Cell anemia and other issues unique to people of color.

"Sickle-Cell victims need two units of blood every two weeks," said Jones. "That’s 10 percent of the overall supply."

To underscore Jones’ point, Davina Daniels, a Sickle-Cell victim, told the audience of her experience with the life-threatening disease. Daniels’ case is so severe she needs blood transfusions every two weeks due to the incapacitating attacks of the disease.

"It’s like a traffic jam in your blood vessels," said Daniels whose blood type is "one in a million." "When you get the blood [transfusion] it’s like pouring water on a dying plant. You come back to life," she said.

Unfortunately for the young mother, whose son was also given transfusions several times when he was born a few months premature, her rare blood type means she is not given a transfusion until she’s in crisis.

"Every time I have to be at death’s door in order to be saved. It’s hard waiting for blood, but thanks to the New York Blood Bank I have been able to live and still have a lot of living to do. Your blood is like superman coming to the rescue," she explained to the rapt audience.

According to Jones, blood centers are always in need of donations because the term "blood bank" is a misnomer.

"We’re really a pipeline and
not a bank," Jones explained. "The shelf life of red blood is
42 days blood doesn’t get saved up so you always have to give. Sometimes you need blood product that is 24 hours old.

For people concerned about the effects of donating blood, Dr. K Geoffrey Doughlin, chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine at Jamaica Hospital, the body is replenishing the donation without harm to the system.

"You don’t need all of the red blood [circulating] in your body," said Doughlin. The body gets rid of it and its constantly being replenished.

According to Doughlin the blood shortage is so serious that during one particularly desperate point they had to stop accepting patients who may need transfusions.

"We have to be able to provide for the emergency surgeries as well as the elective ones," said Doughlin, who performs elective as well as emergency room surgeries. "When you need surgery for prostate or rectal cancers those surgeries have to be postponed if there isn’t enough blood on hand," he said.

The Blood Center is reaching out to minority communities because of "racial differences" in blood type, according to Jones.

"Type A is seen more in Caucasians while types B and O are more common in African Americans," said Jones. "There are markers on each so it’s very important that we have donors that reflect the community. That is why we, as an organization, are reaching out to the African American Community," he said.

For further information on blood donations call the New York Blood Center at 212-570-3000 or visit them at www.nybloodcenter.org