Urgent: Donate Your Blood!

Published on July 8, 2003 By iMike In WinCustomize News

In many areas of the US, there are major blood shortages! Read on for more about the shortage and how you can help.

The American Red Cross announced on Monday severe shortages of blood in the United States. Figures going into the July 4th weekend showed that the organization had only a 2-day supply of all blood types, and due to excessive traveling, the supply has dropped since then. Therefore, many regional Red Crosses across the nation have issued appeals for immediate donations in their respective areas.

As reported by the Danbury News-Times of Danbury, CT, the state of Connecticut is down to a 3/10th of a day supply of blood, which is significantly lower than the normal cushion of six days.

How can you help? Donate some blood if at all possible, and urge your family and friends to do the same. The criteria for donating is as follows:

You must be 17 years of age or older.
You must be at least 110 pounds.
You must be in good health.

You can donate blood every 56 days, and it is definitely worth it.

Show power in numbers, and help save someone's life!

Connecticut residents: You can find a listing of blood drives for the months of July and August at http://www.bloodct.org/blood.htm . All other residents, please search the Internet for dates in your area.

Side note: This is not related to skinning or art in any way; It is more important. Please excuse this article as being off topic and realize the importance of it all. One day, heaven forbid, you or a loved one may be in a situation where blood is needed and it would be a shame if it weren't available.

Comments

Chef Garry

on Jul 08, 2003

There's always need for plasma and platelets as well. In Canada, you can donate once a week for these areas. Takes longer but do give if you can.

Estimations are that only 3% of eligible donors actually give.

The Rated PG

on Jul 08, 2003

As in the military if you ask the blood drive bus will sometimes come out to your work establishment/company and do it in the parking lot. Walk out donate, walk back in go back to work.

Jafo

on Jul 09, 2003

I used to donate frequently...until my wife had me getting tattoos....which renders me ineligible for a year after them....which is just plain stupidity on their behalf....contractable diseases through the tattoo proces can be screened....and the rising 'popularity' of tattooing is gonna be a hurdle they need cross...

craeonics

on Jul 09, 2003

My weight/length ratio is too low to give blood, but the rest of the family does it.

Side note though: how come they find out about it now, when it's almost too late? Mismanagement?

Chef Garry

on Jul 09, 2003

crae, to my understanding, blood shortage is chronic. I don't think they've ever not been short. Disasters like 9/11 of course make things much worse.

T-Man

on Jul 09, 2003

I just gave two weeks ago so I have a few more weeks to go before I can donate again.

Aqua.

on Jul 09, 2003

It's crazy, they have cronic shortages and every year they reduce the number of people that are eligable to donate.

Chef Garry

on Jul 09, 2003

Aqua, I know it seems weird but my wife works for Canadian Blood Services and they explain it this way.

If you were in need of blood or blood products, wouldn't you want to be sure that the product was as safe as possible? Particularly as you wouldn't be in good health in the first place.

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