In case you didn't know, you are an incredible person. You may hate your acne, those extra pounds on your thighs, how fair your skin tone is, or whatever other flaws you see in yourself that you hate. What you don't know is that your beautifully flawed body is capable of more than you think. The anatomy of the human body can be compared to a system, and the gas that's fueling the movements of that system is your blood. Did you know...
1. Every three seconds, someone in the U.S. is in need of blood.
There are 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in every hour, and 60 seconds in every minute. If someone needs blood every three seconds in the U.S., it rounds out to a total of 40,000 units of blood being needed every day in order to save lives.
2. 36,000 units of blood are needed every day in the U.S.
However, even with the American Red Cross working and partnering up with 58,000 blood drive sponsors to hold more than 145,000 blood drives every year, hospitals are still facing a severe blood shortage.
3. No matter what blood type, your blood can always be used.
Only 48 percent of people in the U.S. have type O (positive or negative) blood. Type O negative blood is crucial in emergencies used in accidents before knowing the victim's blood type, along with being given to newborns who need blood.
Only 3 percent of Americans have AB blood type. AB positive type blood donors are also universal donors of plasma which is also used in emergencies, newborns, and for patients who need large transfusions.
4. Blood cannot be manufactured, but only donated.
The majority of red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection, donated platelets must be used within 5 days of collection, and plasma and cryoprecipitate can be frozen and used for up to one year after collection. If we increased the percentage of blood donors in the U.S., more blood and plasma will be readily available in times of emergency.
5. Just one donation could potentially go to more than one patient.
The American Red Cross provides blood for patients of 26,000 hospitals across the United States and supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood. Blood and plasma donations are used for more than just car accidents and other emergencies -- cancer patients needing blood for chemotherapy, sickle patients who need transfusions, and many other diseases.
6. Having a fear of needles should not interfere with your chance to save a life.
About 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate at any time, but less than 10 percent of that percentage actually do so each year. When you donate, they take one out of the 10 liters of blood in your body, but just one car accident victim can require as much as 100 pints of blood. Just ask yourself, what would you do if that single victim was one of your loved ones?
Take 10 to 15 minutes out of your time, and go register to be a donor today. No matter your flaws, your body is a work of art that gives you the incredible ability of giving others the gift of life, so why shouldn't use it?
