Somebody in the US wants blood each 2 seconds. Heather, who lives in Dallas, Texas, has wanted many blood transfusions to deal with sickle cell illness. This illness, which impacts greater than 100,000 individuals nationally, may cause ache and different severe problems. Typically Heather needed to wait a very long time for the appropriate blood. As soon as, she even got here near dying when it took greater than 48 hours to get the blood she wanted.
Heather’s story is featured within the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies marketing campaign that I helped launch final yr referred to as . The marketing campaign raises consciousness in regards to the significance of blood donation and encourages Individuals to donate commonly. Watch Heather inform her story and thank the blood donors who gave her, as she says, new life.
Blood transfusions don’t simply assist deal with sickle cell illness. Blood can be wanted for surgical procedures, severe accidents, most cancers therapies, childbirth, extreme anemia, and extra. And that’s why a gradual, ongoing provide of blood is essential.
Earl, a veteran and motivational speaker from Pennsylvania, additionally shares his story of receiving blood after he was wounded whereas serving in Afghanistan.
Though all Individuals are inspired to donate, it’s particularly vital for individuals from various backgrounds to roll up their sleeves. It’s because some individuals have uncommon blood varieties, and it is very important have suitable blood obtainable to them.
As well as, individuals who get blood transfusions to deal with sure blood issues, akin to sickle cell illness, can want a extra exact match than different blood recipients. In these instances, the extra carefully matched a unit of blood is, the much less probably it’s that a person can have an adversarial response. Having a big, various pool of blood donors ensures that every one sufferers can have entry to the blood they want, after they want it.
There isn’t any substitute for blood, so in honor of Nationwide Blood Donor Month this January, I hope you’ll be part of me in spreading the phrase in regards to the significance of blood donation. Only one donation can save as much as three lives. The easy, beneficiant act of giving blood helps like Heather and Earl get the blood transfusions they want.
If you’re , then I encourage you to make an appointment to donate at this time—then donate time and again to make sure there’s a regular, ongoing provide to assist these in want. Go to the to close to you. On this web site you can even study in regards to the and get solutions to .
If you’re not eligible to donate blood, then there are nonetheless some ways to assist. You may assist us discover extra blood donor heroes by selling the marketing campaign. From internet hosting a blood drive to sharing in your social media feed or in your neighborhood, there are lots of methods we will all be concerned. Let’s have fun the lifesaving act of giving blood. The extra donors there are, the extra lives we will save.