There Is No Substitute for the Life-Saving Gift of Blood Donation
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Although an estimated 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, less than 10 percent actually do.
According to the American Red Cross, blood donations dip twice a year: during the summer and during the winter holiday season. NOW is the time to give the gift of life.
“People are traveling more, shopping, visiting with loved ones and during the winter months, it only takes two or three inches of snow to impact our ability to collect blood locally,” says a Red Cross spokesperson.
Although people with all blood types are encouraged to donate, the Red Cross is especially interested in donations from individuals with Type O blood. Type O is the universal blood type, which means that anyone can receive it. As anyone who has ever watched a medical drama on television can attest, the calls for “O neg” are common during trauma situations. It is crucial that hospitals have reserves of Type O blood so that they’re always prepared when an emergency arises.
“There will always be accidents and surgeries that require blood,” says Dr. Pam Erdman, Crossroads Hospice Medical Director in Atlanta. “Through research, we have found health agents like plasma-expanding agents or oxygen-carrying supplements, [but] they are no substitute for The Creator’s original solution: our own blood. While plasma expansion and other IV fluids exist, they are not the same as the antibodies and electrolytes that exist in blood.”
Dr. Erdman adds, “To have the best supply for when you or a loved one needs it, everyone needs to donate when they can so we have an unlimited pool for all who need it.”
January is National Blood Donation Month. Blood drives happen every day. To find one closest to you, call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS or schedule an appointment online.
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