Be someone’s lifeline: Roll up your sleeve

Not all heroes wear capes. Some people save lives just by rolling up their sleeves.

I’m talking, of course, about blood donation. Consider:

About every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
One pint of blood can save up to 3 lives.
Since you can donate blood every 56 days, you could save up to 19 lives a year.

Why blood donation matters

Blood transfusions are used to replace blood lost during surgery or in accidents. They also help people whose bodies can’t make enough healthy blood, like those with anemia or sickle cell disease.

Cancer patients, transplant patients, and people with major infections or burns may also need blood transfusions. All that blood needs to come from somewhere…people like you and I have to donate it.

Blood supplies often run low over the summer and during the winter holidays, leading the American Red Cross — which manages nearly half of all U.S. blood donations — to declare an emergency blood shortage. If you’re a patient who urgently needs a blood transfusion, a blood shortage can be a big, big problem.

Why blood shortages exist

About 62 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood at any given time, yet only 3 percent of eligible people give blood. Why?

Some non-donors say they just never thought about it. Others say they’re too busy. And some common myths about giving blood may also be getting in the way.

Blood donation myths and facts

Myth: Giving blood hurts.Fact: For most blood donors, the pain is no worse than a needle prick.

Myth: I don’t have time.Fact: The entire process — from when you sign in to the time you leave — takes about an hour.

Myth: I’m not eligible to donate because I have a tattoo, diabetes, low iron, etc.Fact: It’s true that there are reasons why someone could be ineligible to donate blood, but the eligibility requirements have changed over time. They also vary by what type of blood donation you’re making. So instead of making assumptions about your eligibility, read these eligibility requirements.

Myth: Blood can be manufactured artificially, so donation isn’t important. Fact: Absolutely false! Blood cannot be made artificially. Every single drop must be donated.

Pay it forward

You, or someone you love, may need a blood transfusion someday. You can help “pay it forward” by donating blood to someone else.

So, roll up your sleeve and go save a life! As someone who has given blood frequently, I can tell you this: It feels great to make that kind of a difference.

Find a blood drive near you.