Take an ACTION STEP

My action step involves the importance of donating blood. This issue is particularly important to me because there is a huge shortage of blood here in southeastern Michigan. Approximately 900 blood donations are needed each day (in southeast Michigan alone), and approximately 39,000 pints of blood is needed each day in America! Every two seconds is the time that passes before someone in America needs blood. (About 1 in 7 people going into a hospital needs blood). About 4.5 million patients need blood transfusions each year in the U.S (and Canada), but only 38% of the U.S population is eligible to donate. Donating blood saves lives.

Just by giving blood (1 unit = 1 pint), you could save three lives! And by donating six times a year (most you can donate in a year), you can save 24 people! If all blood donors gave three times a year, blood shortages would be extremely rare, and if one more percent of everyone in the U.S would donate, blood shortages will not happen. The demand for blood increase’s during holidays and the summer months, because during these times traveling is greater, leading to even greater risks of accidents. And maybe you are someone who wants to cut down on their calories and is losing weight, well, while donating blood you burn about 650 calories! You’re just not benefitting someone else live, but also yours.

I say blood donating is important to me because I have a little nephew that was born prematurely. He needed amount two pints of blood to stay alive, so I donated a pint and my brother donated a pint. We saved his live. There are many ways to use the blood that’s being donated. The donations are used to help patients in need. It can help accidents victims (which they might need anywhere from 4- 100 units of blood), a kidney transplant (2 units), premature baby (1-4 units), liver transplant (10 units), cancer treatment (2-6 units), heart transplant (4-6 units), sickle cell disease (10-15 units), open heart surgery (2-6 units), and leukemia (2-6 units). All of these (which are the most common patient needs), and more, needs frequent blood donations. People die when they lose a lot of blood when there is not enough blood to be transferred to them. It is important to donate. Save a life! It’s not a hard thing to do.

Donating blood is as simple as riding a bike! Any person of the age of 17 (and older), and weighs at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Every 56 days (every two months) you can donate. All you have to do is call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE and sign up. The process is easy. Once you have registered, you go to the donation site that has been given to you, sign in and get started. First, you would see a nurse and she would ask you questions about your health. Second, the nurse would take your temperature, your pressure, and then test your Iron (at which she would poke your finger, take the blood, and then put it in a testing machine). The test measures the amount of red blood cells in your body that carry oxygen. (This is called the Hematocrit test). Your Iron must be at least a 38% (12.5 and up) to donate blood. If able to donate, the real process begins. A tube (which is connected to a pint bag and four separate tubes) is put in your vein, and the blood will flow from your arm, into the bag and tubes. (The small little test tubes are for testing your blood for any diseases or abnormalities. So if you were affected with Hepatitis, HIV or AIDS, the center will contact you and stop the delivery of your blood immediately) After this is complete, you are then immediately given a snack (this is so that you won’t become dizzy, dehydrated, or light headed after donating). This whole process takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

When I donated blood, I felt great because I saved three people lives (off of just one donation)!! I will donate blood for the rest of my life because it makes me feel good that I’m making a difference in someone’s life. It makes me feel like a hero because in one year I can save 24 people. What I learned from donating blood, is that no matter how little something seem might seem to you, it just might have a huge impact on some else’s live. I strongly suggest that people donate blood because it is a truly warm-hearted, happy feeling experience. If you had a loved one that needed blood, wouldn’t you donate for them? So why not donate for a number of people that would feel just as appreciative as your loved one would be?