Thursday, June 10, 2010

Give


What are you doing next Monday, the 14th of June?

Would you join me in giving blood on World Blood Donor Day? My father-in-law will be entering the hospital soon to prepare for his stem cell transplant to treat his leukemia. Over the past few months, his illness has caused him to need a number of blood transfusions. I'll be giving in his name next week to help offset those costs. If you are local and would like to do the same, please email me for info about how to designate your donation specifically for him.

ABOUT THE “GIVE” DONATION INITIATIVE:

Many Americans consider giving blood to be an important act of community service, however, less than 10 percent donate on an annual basis. Incredibly, if just one percent more donated–less than four million Americans–the nation’s blood shortages would disappear for the foreseeable future. To help close this gap, Nexcare Brand and America ’s Blood Centers are partnering on the second annual give program, a nationwide blood donation initiative kicking off on World Blood Donor Day, Monday, June 14th, and extending through Sunday, June 20th.
With the support of hundreds of participating local blood centers, the give program inspires Americans with a message of hope, and helps them to spread the word by distributing limited-edition Nexcare Bandages marked with the word give.

World Blood Donor Day comes at an important time each year. As local blood centers face “summer shortages,” the nation’s blood supply comes under strain due to less donations because of increased vacation schedules and other seasonal distractions that tend to take place in the summer months. World Blood Donor Day reminds Americans to donate and enables them to help make a impact in reducing these shortages.

The 2010 give Bandages are inspired by both the patriotic act of giving blood as well as Flag Day, which will also be recognized on June 14, 2010. This collection of three Nexcare bandages are designed to represent the American flag signify the everyday hero in each American who commits to saving lives by donating blood.

Additionally, there’s a dedicated website, http://www.nexcaregive.com/
, where visitors can share their story, get directions to our local blood center and register to receive coupons and a free sampling of bandages.

Did You Know? Facts About Blood Donation
· One pint of blood can save up to three lives
· Every two seconds, someone needs blood
· Most Americans will require a blood transfusion at some point in their lives
· Less than 10% of Americans donate blood on an annual basis
· If one percent more Americans gave blood, all national blood shortages would disappear for the foreseeable future
· There is no substitute for human blood
· Donors can give whole blood up to six times a year

5 comments:

Mel said...

I definitely would if I wasn't preggers!

sprinkles said...

I used to donate blood but when I tried to last year, they wouldn't take it. They said that because I'd been in The Netherlands in the 80's, there was a concern for mad cow disease. I told them that the Red Cross had accepted my blood before and they said the rules may have changed since then. It had been awhile since I'd donated previously.

I only did it this last time to get out of work. I had very little to do at my last job, yet I was expected to keep busy. So I thought maybe an hour or so off work with pay would be ideal. I guess that's karma coming back to bite me since I wasn't doing it for the good of mankind! :(

I'm sorry to hear about your FIL's leukemia. I hope he'll be ok.

I'm part of the local Relay For Life committee so I feel like I'm still giving back in some small way. I can't give blood but I'm helping raise money for a cure!

C. Beth said...

Great post!

I'm not eligible to donate but I'll post this on Twitter & FB.

I know they need to have strict restrictions about who can donate, but I wish it was just a little easier! I'm under the weight limit but would happily donate half a pint. If they could be more flexible with some of those restrictions it might be easier to get that extra 1%!

Stacey,momof 2 said...

My daughter was a premee and she had to have blood at birth, then when she was about a 1 1/2 old she had e coli HUS and had to have more blood for kidney dialysis--

Please give your blood if you can !
Our family wouldn't be 4 people without the blood people have given.

Hair Bows & Guitar Picks said...

I will do it! I give blood all the time and it's about that time again :)