Donating Life

My random thoughts as I was walking back from work today:

Yesterday, entering the nurse's break-room there was a sign posted informing us that the city's blood supply was down to one day. One day! before they are out of blood. Reading that reminded me of the fact those bags of blood hanging in the patients' rooms come from volunteers - people who willingly have their arm stuck with a large needle and squeeze a ball for a half hour while their blood is collected. Unlike medications, oxygen tanks, or food trays... blood is not something that cannot simply be reordered at the ring of a phone call.

I admire people who donate blood. Whenever I think about who regularly does so I envision a person in their late 40-50s... some one who has given away 1 pint of blood every 52 days for x number of years. The same people coming in and out with a cookie in their hand. But why don't more people do it?

Some times I think it'd be a sweet idea to have the donor's name on the actual blood bag so other people can know who was helping keep them alive. Yet, then again, I can imagine people not wanting to accept blood from a person whose name sounds African American or Mexican or Caucasian or whatever... just like most everything else politics would be drawn into it. Then not only would people take for granted that gift of life, but resent it.... or even more stupid... refuse it.

Requirements to donate blood (according to American Red Cross)

+You must be healthy ("Healthy" means that you feel well and can perform normal activities. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, "healthy" also means that you are being treated and the condition is under control.)
+At least 17 years old or 16 years old if allowed by state law
+Weigh at least 110 pounds
+Not have donated blood in the last 8 weeks (56 days).

I have a cold so when I phoned the local blood bank about donating she told me to wait 72 hours after all cold symptoms are gone. So to all you healthy people - DONATE BLOOD and save up to THREE lives!