Want To DO Something To Help? Donate Blood

The massacre at Virginia Tech has touched us all, regardless of whether or not we knew anyone there. We feel for the students, for their parents who surely were in agony waiting to hear from their kids and for all the family and friends who lost a loved one. It is a tragedy of mass proportions.

If you're like me, you want to DO something to help.

The only thing I can think of to do is give blood.

All of the blood needed for the victims of this mass shooting was already in the hospitals. It was needed RIGHT THEN, no time for a line to form. We need to donate regularly so it's there when it's needed.

There is no substitute for human blood. Scientists haven't come up with anything else that will work; only the blood that we donate will save lives.

Donated blood can be stored for only 45 days. It is perishable and the supply needs to be replenished continuously. In a lifetime, nearly each one of us will have a need for donated blood.

We are eligible to give blood if we are over 17 years of age, in reasonably good health and more than 110 pounds. I'd guess that describes most of us.

You'll be given a mini-physical before donation. This is a good health screening for you as well as a protection for the person who will receive your blood. After donating, you can give blood again in 56 days. Your body will make nice, fresh blood for you. Some studies show that regularly giving blood may lower heart attacks and cardiac problems, although more studies are being done. But blood donation isn't about YOUR health. It's about doing something to save someone you'll never even know.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. How many is that just since you started reading?

While 60% of us are eligible to give blood, only 5% of us actually do. The one pint that you donate can save up to three lives. Three lives. Isn't that worth an hour or so of your time? Ask the parents of the Virginia Tech students, they'll tell you it IS worth the time. Every time. Always.

I can't donate right now because it has been less than 56 days since I last donated. My blood is already waiting for someone in an emergency, and I feel better for it.

Please let this be my challenge to you to give. You can't wait until an emergency; the blood has to be there already. Don't say you don't have time. If you were one of the parents from Virginia Tech, would that excuse be enough? Sorry to be harsh, but this is a simple thing most of us are able to do. Please help.