If there is one thing that I feel very strongly about, it
is that everyone should give blood (if eligible). On the radio yesterday they
were saying that Canada is suffering great shortages of blood donations and
will need at least 50,000 donations in the next few weeks to meet the demands
for the rest of the summer. That’s a lot of needed blood!
I bet that every single person
reading this knows someone who has needed blood. My family has been affected by
automobile accidents, cancer and extensive surgical operations (heart &
hip), all of which would need substantial amounts of donated blood. I mean, a car accident victim
can need up to 50 units of blood to save the life! That means that 50 donors
need to give blood just to help save one life. That might be your mom’s life,
or your son’s, or even your own life.
A few years back, my friend and I went to the blood services clinic in Charlottetown to give blood. We
were pumped! Neither of us had ever donated before and we were stoked to get
the opportunity to help out our fellow man by giving the gift of blood (it’s in
us to give). After arriving and filling out some basic paperwork, we were
separated into private rooms for the more personal questions and paperwork
(like how many prostitutes I had ever slept with) and into the big leather
chair I went! After much poking and prodding, they deemed my veins too small
and ridiculous to be able to donate that day. It was recommended that I go
home, drink tons of water and come back another day. Hopefully my veins would be
more cooperative with more fluid running through them.
Feeling slightly defeated, I
headed back to the waiting room to wait for my friend. I was surprised to see
her waiting for me there and quickly found out that she was unable to donate as
well because of a heart condition that she had. We were both feeling very
bummed out at this point. Two people who wanted to actually give blood were
turned away because of a slightly faulty heart and teeny tiny arm veins.
When I went back the following
week with a body crammed full of water, they were still unable to get much out
of me and told me that I am not a candidate for giving blood. And
to think I gave up getting tattooed for 2 years so that I could donate (now
it’s only a 6 month wait).
We were the rare people who
are not eligible to donate, but chances are that you are the part of the
population who can! If you check out the Canadian Blood Service website,
there is a list of requirements to be a donor. Go ahead. See if you can be a donor!
So why aren’t people donating?
I am betting that the two main reasons that people do not donate are:
1)
Sissies!
2) No time/do not
think about it.
So you’re afraid of needles
and don’t like to give blood. In the big scheme of things, is your comfort that important that it is keeping you from saving a life? Doesn’t it sound a
little silly to say “Oh, I can’t save your dying sons life because I don’t like
needles.” Yup….sounds pretty ridiculous. Think of all of the things that we do
which are not enjoyable but do anyway because they are for our own health. Pap
smears, prostate exams, dental appointments, colonoscopies…etc. Not fun or
comfortable. But all can save a life.
You don’t have the time or you
don’t think to give blood. Write it on your calendar or program it into your
phone to set a reminder to make an appointment or to go online and fill out an
application. Make the time. Think about it. Enough said.
Did I mention that you get
cookies, cake and juice after you give blood? Yes, I am willing to add bribery
methods to get you in there.
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