by Angelina Beach

The JHS Blood Drive sponsored by the National Honor Society took place last Thursday and Friday, and as a healthcare student who plans on staying in the healthcare field for as long as possible, I think that blood drives are very important.

But most people don’t take them as seriously as they should.

Unfortunately, out of all people who are eligible to donate to their blood drives each year, only 3% actually donate.

So much blood is needed everyday in the United States. That being said, in order to help save lives, we need more people to donate.

Donations have the power to transform lives. Whether it’s someone who has recently suffered a car accident or a child battling cancer, a single donation of blood can save up to three people.

Blood is an important factor when it comes to the healthcare field. Individuals with illnesses that cause anemia will usually be the recipients of blood transfusions.

For example, sickle cell disease is a group of inherited disorders that affect the major protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells, the hemoglobin. It is a disease that requires blood transfusions throughout the patient’s life. This disease affects a good amount of people in the U.S.; in fact, around 1,000 babies are born with it each year.

That being said, people need to start spreading awareness about the importance of blood drives.

Whole blood donations only take a short amount of time, about 8-10 minutes. For a pint, it only takes up to five minutes or less.

For a successful donation, it is recommended donors drink a lot of water, get enough food in their system, and be well rested. It is best to enjoy foods with high iron, in order to keep the body healthy and well energized.

Certain foods and beverages can have a negative effect on blood, including alcohol, fattening foods, foods that reduce iron absorption, and aspirin.

Newer studies show that it is actually healthy to donate blood, both for the donor and receiver.

The more blood that is donated, the more lives that can be saved.

Some Facts About Blood Donations

• Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets.
• Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed everyday in the U.S.
• Nearly 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
• The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.
• According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.9 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2023. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
• Source: The American Red Cross