Confession: until a couple of months ago, the last time I’d donated blood was in high school – and that was to get out of class! Most of us just don’t think about it. Why would we?
Turns out there are plenty of reasons to go under the needle – and also plenty of ways to do it.
Donating blood is great for your health. Really! It can preserve cardiovascular health by reducing your risk of heart attack and stroke due to removal of oxidative iron. This reduction in iron can also lessen the risk of cancer, because excessive iron in your blood increases free radical damage. You also lose about 650 calories donating a pint of blood. Can’t beat that!
The most important reason to donate, of course, is to help people. It’s a simple-yet-significant way to make a real difference in people’s lives.
Every couple of seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, totaling 44,000 blood donations per day. According to the American Red Cross, “A single individual who donates whole blood, starting at 17 years old, every 56 days until they [sic] reach 76 will have donated 48 gallons of blood, potentially saving more than 1,000 lives.”
What do they mean by “whole” blood? This is what we generally think of as drawing one pint of blood after which you can donate again in eight weeks. Platelet donation, however, also extremely important, can be done every seven days. In this 90-minute procedure, a machine withdraws the blood, filters out the platelets, and returns the rest of the blood right back to the donor. Platelets are microscopic cells in your blood that form clots and stop bleeding. You’ve likely also heard of plasma donation, which has a process similar to that of platelet donation, except that you can do it as often as every 48 hours. Plasma is the all-important high-speed railway of the blood, transporting proteins, hormones, and nutrients throughout the body.
Need any more convincing? Well, it’s a good deed that you can accomplish in under an hour, if you are donating whole blood. There’s also the free cookie/soda/juice to, ahem, sweeten the deal. Many places also offer perks. One Blood.org recently offered free movie tickets, and another day, a Walmart gift card.
If you are ready to take the plunge, OneBlood.org is a great resource, as is DonatingPlasma.org, and, of course, the American Red Cross. They will tell you where to go and what to expect. Also keep in mind that your pets can donate blood – yes, really! Animals need blood transfusions, too, and just imagine how lovingly you will look at Rover after he’s been such a very good boy. Most veterinarians suggest donating four to six times per year. Call your vet to ask if your fuzzy friend is a good candidate, and where they recommend you take your pet to have blood drawn.
I hope you’ll consider doing yourself and your fellow citizens a huge favor by becoming a regular donor! Bragging rights guaranteed!
