One Thing You Should Definitely Be Doing No Matter What Stage of Life You're In
Today’s post is dedicated to a selfless act of kindness that saves lives every single day. You certainly don’t have to work in the medical field, search and rescue, or even on the police force to help people and save lives. Every single person can make a difference (assuming you take care of yourself and don’t contract any devastating diseases yourself), and it really only takes an hour of your time every 2 months (at most). I’m talking about donating blood, people!
The American Red Cross is at a constant shortage of blood which is used to aid those who sustain serious injuries or are undergoing surgery. Simply giving blood once every 2 months can really make a huge impact in someone’s life (and in their loved one’s lives when you save their family member from dying with your blood donation)! And your single donation can save up to 3 lives! How awesome is that?!
I personally make it a mission to give blood as often as I possibly can, just thinking about how one day I may need someone’s blood in order to stay alive, or in order for someone I love to survive. Plus, the red cross has been known to give incentives for donating as well; who doesn’t love a free $5 to spend on Amazon or a free t-shirt?!
I also think back to the days when I was a high school and college athlete and wasn’t able to donate very often due to mandatory practices or weight lifting, and feel an even stronger sense that I want to make up for missed donation time. I know I’m weird, but whatever, at least I’m saving some lives with my weirdness!
Also, with the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, you can keep track of how many lives you’ve impacted as well as have your blood donor card/blood type on hand at all times. Plus you can join a team to compete against other teams and see how so many are making an impact in the world! It will even let you know where your specific blood donation was sent (which hospital) when it’s used; how awesome is that!
One of the most convenient things about the app, though, is that you can search blood drives or donation dates/locations whenever you want to (and it won’t allow you to book an appointment within the 56 days that you have to wait before donating blood again), which makes donating so so simple. It even will give you the times that are available and allow you to book one, and it can add the appointment to your calendar automatically. Come on, people, it doesn’t get much easier than that!
So today I’m also going to walk you through the process of donating blood.
I hope this was informative and eased any fears or concerns you may have about donating blood. I really, truly, believe that this is one small way that everyone can make a difference, and that you’re not doing your part for humanity if you don’t at least attempt to give blood! It’s just so easy and if you can be that important to even just one person (or 3 people!) at a time, you’re doing your part in the world.
What do you think? Have you ever donated blood? What’s been holding you back? I’d love to hear about your experiences or answer any questions that you may have!
The American Red Cross is at a constant shortage of blood which is used to aid those who sustain serious injuries or are undergoing surgery. Simply giving blood once every 2 months can really make a huge impact in someone’s life (and in their loved one’s lives when you save their family member from dying with your blood donation)! And your single donation can save up to 3 lives! How awesome is that?!
I personally make it a mission to give blood as often as I possibly can, just thinking about how one day I may need someone’s blood in order to stay alive, or in order for someone I love to survive. Plus, the red cross has been known to give incentives for donating as well; who doesn’t love a free $5 to spend on Amazon or a free t-shirt?!
I also think back to the days when I was a high school and college athlete and wasn’t able to donate very often due to mandatory practices or weight lifting, and feel an even stronger sense that I want to make up for missed donation time. I know I’m weird, but whatever, at least I’m saving some lives with my weirdness!
Also, with the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, you can keep track of how many lives you’ve impacted as well as have your blood donor card/blood type on hand at all times. Plus you can join a team to compete against other teams and see how so many are making an impact in the world! It will even let you know where your specific blood donation was sent (which hospital) when it’s used; how awesome is that!
So today I’m also going to walk you through the process of donating blood.
- You’ll sign up for an appointment on your app (or https://www.redcrossblood.org/) which will be added to your calendar.
- A day before/on the day of your donation slot, you’ll get an email asking you to fill out a rapid pass to speed up the documentation/formality of the donation process.
- You show up to your appointment and sign in, and wait a few minutes for someone to be available to help you.
- They take you to a more private section, ask your name, check your donor card, temperature/blood pressure/heart rate, and have you confirm that everything you filled out on your rapid pass is accurate.
- Then they check your hemoglobin levels (basically your iron levels, so make sure to eat some iron-rich foods such as red meats or green, leafy vegetables to make sure you have enough iron heading into your donation day). This check is done through a tiny prick in your middle or ring finger (it’s over before you know it).
- You’re then ready to donate! They’ll have you recline on a plinth and check your arms for a more prominent vein, and then get you prepped. To prepare your arm, they’ll clean your arm with an antiseptic, put a small tourniquet around your upper arm, have you squeeze a stress ball, and then put the needle in.
- You’ll probably spend about 15 minutes or so actually donating blood. They cover the needle from your view and ask you to squeeze the stress ball every 5-10 seconds.
- Once you’ve donated they’ll remove the needle and put a bandage on your arm, while making sure you don’t feel lightheaded. When they’re sure that all is well, they send you to the “canteen” area where you spend 10-15 minutes drinking some juice and eating a snack so that they’re extra sure you won’t get lightheaded when driving home.
- Then you leave! That’s it, in and out in about an hour. You remove the bandages within the next few hours and refrain from heavy lifting or exercise for the rest of the day, and you’re good to go!
I hope this was informative and eased any fears or concerns you may have about donating blood. I really, truly, believe that this is one small way that everyone can make a difference, and that you’re not doing your part for humanity if you don’t at least attempt to give blood! It’s just so easy and if you can be that important to even just one person (or 3 people!) at a time, you’re doing your part in the world.
What do you think? Have you ever donated blood? What’s been holding you back? I’d love to hear about your experiences or answer any questions that you may have!
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