A Call To Action!
Two Words: GIVE BLOOD
There happens to be a critical blood shortage in the U.S. at the moment, and it also happens that January is National Volunteer Blood Donor Month, but any time is a good time to give blood.
I try to give every eight weeks (about as often as one can safely do so), and I encourage others to do the same. To find out more about blood donation:
- in the U.S., check out The American Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks, or America’s Blood Centers, or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE, or go to https://www.givelife.org/
- in Canada, check out Canadian Blood Services
- elsewhere, try the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
If you think you have a reason NOT to give, check out these Top Ten Reasons for Not Giving Blood first. While some people really can’t give (under minimum age/weight, anemic, etc.), most people are eligible, and the sad fact is that most eligible people don’t donate.
If you need some reasons to give:
- blood is a precious commodity that saves lives, and it can’t be manufactured, only donated
- no one else can donate blood for you (George Soros, for example, could cover for us when it comes to donating dollars, but he can only give blood once every eight weeks, same as everyone else)
- it costs you nothing (but an hour and a bandage on your arm) to give blood, but it might be priceless to the recipient
- blood (well, the red blood cells part) has a shelf life of about 42 days, so it’s always in demand
If you’re already a donor, now is a good time to give again, and if you’ve never donated before, now is a great time to start. It’s safe, simple, convenient, (almost) painless, and it gives you an excuse to lie down, drink fluids, and eat cookies. Mmm, cookies…
January 21st, 2003 at 12:01 pm
Could also be differences between countries on the matter of excuses and exclusions. Here in the frozen hinterlands, the blood services also refuse your precious bodily fluids if you admit to any of the following:
- having travelled in the UK between 1976 and 1990
- ever having travelled through any of the African nations
- are a queer man
- have ever slept with a queer man
- have had a tattoo in the past year
- have had any sort of piercing (standard earrings included) in the past year
- have considered voting for the Harris gov’t for a third term
Ok..I made one of those up. I think they’ll still accept it if you were in the uk but slept with noone but your teddy bear.