You might wanna try some different colors around here. Default doesn’t fit you. Gotta go!

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…