This past March 25th we held our 2nd Annual Blood Drive and it was a rousing success.
The Bloodmobile was positioned in our parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and had both staff and people from the community participating.
Did you know?
- 1 in 4 people will need blood in their lifetime.
- Out of every 100 people, only 4 to 5 actually give blood.
- Each year, 4.5 million Americans would die without blood transfusions.
- 1 donation has the potential to save as many as 3 lives and will touch the lives of so many more.
While you keep that in mind, here are 5 great reasons why we should donate blood.
1. Less Than 10% of Eligible Donors Donate
Only a small portion of those who can do donate. Blood donation is a very safe process, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and the American Association of Blood Banks. They make certain that the donor, the blood supply and recipient stay protected at all times during the process.
2. Blood Donation Saves Lives
Donations are essential for trauma patients and those undergoing a wide range of situations, such as: blood disorders, surgeries (like transplants), and chronic illnesses (like cancer). Because more than 90% of the people who are eligible to donate blood do not, there’s always a need for donors.
3. It Only Takes an Hour
The entire donation process takes approximately one hour, with about 10 minutes of that time being the actual blood donation. As far as volume is concerned, the entire blood donation is usually only one pint (or 500 milliliters in medical lingo).
4. There’s Very Little if Any Pain Involved
When the needle is inserted, you may feel uncomfortable for fraction of a second but shouldn’t feel anything while the blood is being drawn. If your arm feels a little achy after donating, consider taking an over-the-counter pain reliver with acetaminophen to alleviate the soreness.
5. It Doesn’t Have to be a One-Time Gift
While Blood Drives are great, did you know that Blood Donation can be donethroughout the year? A single, whole blood donation (red cells, plasma and platelets) or an apheresis donation, where one component of blood, such as red cells or platelets, is shared and the other components are returned to the donor. Whole blood donations can be made every eight weeks, up to six times per year.
