Up until a couple of weeks ago, the American Red Cross was doing all it could to get a hold of me due to a critically low blood supply in the area. It seemed like every time they would call to tell me about a blood drive that was coming up, I was unable to make it due to conflicts in my schedule. Probably to their frustration more than mine, though I felt that it was important to make some time to go donate. I did manage to find some time to go donate blood at a drive in Hatfield last month, and I'm going to try to keep going every 56 days, which is how long you must wait in between donations.
When Christa, Heather and I were brainstorming ideas for this blog in our office, blood donation came up. I'm not really sure how our conversation made its way to this topic but we did come to the conclusion that giving blood is a great way to volunteer and to donate (not all donations are financial) and make an impact somewhere in the community. Thus, this is a way to LIVE UNITED!
According to the American Red Cross, somebody in the United States will need blood every two seconds, and we need about 38,000 blood donations daily to maintain that demand. That's 16 million units per year! For about an hour and fifteen minutes of your time, a little needle stick and one pint of your blood, you have the potential to save the lives of three people. That's quite the impact for very little involvement. And all it costs is a little love.
While I've been fortunate so far to never have been in the position to need donor blood, my daughter Natalie required it when she was just seven-months old, following the open heart surgery she needed to correct a heart defect. I have no way of knowing who donated the blood that she received, and though I won't ever know the answer I'm eternally grateful and indebted to those folks. Not to mention the good people at the blood bank who made sure the hospital had enough blood for Natalie and all the other patients who needed it. Natalie just marked her eight year post-op anniversary at the beginning of October and her prognosis remains great.
Who else needs blood? Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy can require blood and blood products up to twice a day during treatment. A single car accident victim might need as much as 100 pints of blood. People with Sickle cell disease frequently need blood transfusions throughout their lives. And with less than 38% of the American population eligible to give blood, it's easy to see how it can be a challenge to for the supply to meet the demand.
When Christa, Heather and I were brainstorming ideas for this blog in our office, blood donation came up. I'm not really sure how our conversation made its way to this topic but we did come to the conclusion that giving blood is a great way to volunteer and to donate (not all donations are financial) and make an impact somewhere in the community. Thus, this is a way to LIVE UNITED!
According to the American Red Cross, somebody in the United States will need blood every two seconds, and we need about 38,000 blood donations daily to maintain that demand. That's 16 million units per year! For about an hour and fifteen minutes of your time, a little needle stick and one pint of your blood, you have the potential to save the lives of three people. That's quite the impact for very little involvement. And all it costs is a little love.
While I've been fortunate so far to never have been in the position to need donor blood, my daughter Natalie required it when she was just seven-months old, following the open heart surgery she needed to correct a heart defect. I have no way of knowing who donated the blood that she received, and though I won't ever know the answer I'm eternally grateful and indebted to those folks. Not to mention the good people at the blood bank who made sure the hospital had enough blood for Natalie and all the other patients who needed it. Natalie just marked her eight year post-op anniversary at the beginning of October and her prognosis remains great.
Who else needs blood? Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy can require blood and blood products up to twice a day during treatment. A single car accident victim might need as much as 100 pints of blood. People with Sickle cell disease frequently need blood transfusions throughout their lives. And with less than 38% of the American population eligible to give blood, it's easy to see how it can be a challenge to for the supply to meet the demand.
I'd be remiss if I didn't offer you the opportunity to give blood, and while the North Penn United Way isn't hosting a blood drive, there is one at the Montgomery County Dispatch Center (you might know it more commonly as the place where your 911 call gets answered) on October 27th from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Montgomery County Dispatch Center is located at 50 Eagleville Road in Eagleville, PA. You may make an appointment for this blood drive online at http://www.redcrossblood.org/ and entering sponsor code 14633. If this date or location doesn't work for you, you can search for other blood drive dates in the area at that same website. Please remember that new blood donations are constantly needed. Red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection, and platelets must be used within 5 days of collection.
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