Why you should donate Blood
I am afraid of needles and at the same time, I am fully aware of the need for blood donation. There was really a time that I could not gather courage to do it. Recently I asked this question on Yahoo answers and one of the replies changed my position on blood donation. The question was “Why should I go get pricked and what is the importance of blood donation for me?”
I got many answers but one reply touched me the most. According to her, the benefit is to know that you helped save a life. That is very true. I may say that I help other people. But lending a helping hand is not tantamount to “saving life”. To continue with her reply, she said “The receivers of the blood are usually accident victims, surgery patients, or people like me who are trying to fight breast cancer or any other type of cancer. The chemotherapy and Neulasta kills all of our cells. We usually need transfusions because we become severely anemic. Incase you are planning to do it, I thank you on behalf of people like me that you’ll be able to help.”
Those words opened my heart and my eyes. Yes, Giving your blood extends your contribution to directly adding value to the lives of other people. Also, it adds value to you as a person. So if you dreamed of beaing a Hero as a child here is your chance. The only difference is that you are a hero in the real world.
Now, how else can you look at the value of donating to blood bank? Did you know that with one blood donation you are saving up to three lives. The Blood that is donated is given to cancer patients, victims of accidents and even to organ transplant donors or those who have chronic illnesses.
The usefulness of blood transfusion to patients with leukemia lasts only five days after donation because the platelets that help in the coagulation are fragile cells and must be transferred as soon as possible. The patients also vary in blood type and there are times that the type of blood needed by a patient runs out from the blood bank. Another consideration is that the nationality may also serve as a factor in determining the blood type that is compatible to specific patient.
So you see, the importance of blood donation should be considered by everyone, whatever culture or nationality you may be, especially now that there is mixed-races population in different countries. Your health as a donor also improves because your body replaces the lost blood with new ones that would keep you fit and boosts your immune system. Therefore, you’re not only a hero to others but also to your very own body.
Tags: benefits of blood donation, donating blood, why donate blood
