Hey, did you know that if you donate blood you can save 3 lives? Here at Park Center we have a blood drive every year sponsored by the National Honor Society. Over the past few years the numbers of donations have been getting smaller and smaller. This is a huge problem because it’s not just a Park Center problem. Right now we have a national blood supply shortage. Park Center tries to get about 150 students or more to donate blood. Unfortunately we only get about 80-100 students each year. In Minnesota only 5% of our people donate blood. Yet, there are 14 million transfusions needed each year in the U.S.
Some things you should know before donating blood are that you must be age 17 or older. You should also eat a good meal before giving blood. If you have traveled to certain areas of the world recently, you will not be able to donate blood. All doctors and nurses that take the blood are medically certified. Here at Park Center, all are from the North Memorial Blood Center.
Memorial Blood Centers encourage anyone of good health over the age of 17 to donate blood every 56 days. They also ask that if you are blood type O (known as the universal donor) that you consider donating blood, because Type O is always in low supply. A good time to donate is during the summer and holiday seasons. Most people don't donate during these times due to vacations, but this is also when blood is needed the most. The blood donated is used for car accidents, bone marrow transplants, children being treated for cancer, anemia, as well as trauma patients.
Don't worry if you missed Park Center's blood drive. There are centers open all around the Twin Cities that you can go to if you want to donate blood. And if you're underage, but will be 17 by the next Park Center Blood Drive please donate. Someone needs blood every 3 seconds and who knows, you might be one of them someday. Statistics say that over half of us will need blood in our lifetime. I encourage all potential donors to visit www.memorialbloodcenters.org to learn more about the requirements for blood donation. It's quick, easy to do, and you save 3 lives; what could be better than that! Donate Blood!
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Robert Coder: "I was a quicky this time."
Sarah Holmes: "I was poked twice and when I stood up, I was like woah!"
Greg Rooney: "It was a blast."
Alice Pelton: "Fine. I've donated before."
Garrett Zimmerman- PCSH Webteam