We give each other gifts all the time. But flowers wilt and die. Trinkets are tossed in a drawer or put on a shelf to collect dust. But there is one gift that continues to keep giving. It’s the gift of blood.
Today is World Blood Donor Day and in the Cayman Islands our Blood Bank is celebrating. And they would like for you to celebrate with them by becoming a regular blood donor.
To help convince you, we would like to share some blood donation facts.
One pint of blood can save up to three lives. There are four main red blood cell types: A, B, AB and O. Each can be positive or negative for the Rh factor. AB is the universal recipient; O negative is the universal donor of red blood cells. One unit of blood can be separated into several components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues.
One year: how long frozen plasma can be stored. Seventeen per cent of non-donors cite “never thought about it” as the main reason for not giving, while 15 per cent say they’re too busy. The No. 1 reason blood donors say they give is because they “want to help others.” Blood centres often run short of types O and B red blood cells.
46.5 gallons: amount of blood you could donate if you begin at age 17 and donate every 56 days until you reach 79 years old. After donating blood, you replace the fl uid in hours and the red blood cells within four weeks. It takes eight weeks to restore the iron lost after donating. One unit of whole blood is roughly the equivalent of one pint.
Giving blood will not decrease your strength. So roll up your sleeve and head to the Cayman Islands Blood Bank and vow to become a regular blood donor. You’ll feel better for it and you could potentially save three lives each time you give.
Please, give the gift of life.
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