Blood Donation

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Blood Donation

Donating blood is one of the most selfless acts around that won't cost you anything and can save lives. There is absolute no substitute for human blood, yet there is a huge necessity for it. According to the Journal of American Medical Association, it is noted that just 1 pint of blood can save three lives (Torphy). Through the 10 minutes it takes for you to donate blood you have been able to save 3 lives. Three lives that wouldn't have been able to continue if it weren't for your selfless acts.

"Every 2 seconds, a patient in the US is in need of blood"(PMI). Every 2 seconds means that before you even finished reading this sentence, someone was already in need of a blood transfusion. Those needing blood comes from all walks of life and they require transfusion to replace blood they lost during surgery, because of accidents or internal bleeding and to treat diseases. How many people do you know has sickle cell, leukemia or anyone that has been in a serious accident or been the victim of trauma or burns? If you know someone that has gone through or are going through that, than you know they have needed a blood transfusion. If you are healthy, your body-which has between 10 and 12 pints of blood-can easily spare about a pint, the amount that is collected at a donation. Because the body begins replacing donated blood immediately, most people can give blood every eight weeks. It is said that 70% of Americans are eligible to give blood even though the criteria to donate seems quite strict yet only 3 % of the population donates blood (PMI). Blood donation doesn't hurt, takes only a couple of minutes, won't cost anything and can save many lives, three to be exact from your one pint of blood. Three lives that in the future could include your spouse, parent or child. Keep that in mind, trust in karma and take the ten minutes to donate blood. People will thank you.

References:

Torphy, Janet (2008). JAMA: Blood Donation. MD. Retrieved from: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=181937

Professional Marketing International PMI (2011). The importance of giving blood. Retrieved from: http://professionalmarketinginternationalcharities.org/the-importance-of-giving-blood