Editorial: Donate to KU Blood Drive and help save lives

Monday, March 7, 2011

Often times being charitable means giving something up that you won’t get back. Donating time or money improves lives through another’s sacrifice. However, there is one way to donate with hardly any sacrifice at all — giving blood.

The KU Blood Drive began today and lasts through Friday. Students can visit kublooddrive.com to find out more about eligibility to donate and also to find locations on campus to donate this week.

Adults have about 10 pints of blood in their bodies and one pint is given during a donation. Although temporarily the body loses blood after a donation, it then replenishes the pint that was lost.

One pint of blood can save up to three lives. Unlike time or money, which some people might not be able to give, blood is something most people can spare. Blood cannot be manufactured. It can only be given by volunteer donors, and is needed everyday to save lives.

According to the American Red Cross, someone needs a blood transfusion every two seconds, and 5 million patients in the U.S. need blood every year. Most people don’t think they’ll ever need blood, but many do. Less than 38% of the population is eligible to give blood and only 7% of people in the U.S. have the universal blood type, O negative. With so many people needing blood everyday, it is crucial that those who can donate do.

This year, the Blood Drive Committee’s goal is to collect 850 productive units. Last fall it collected 1,030 productive units. Those interested in donating should get plenty of rest the night before, eat a healthy meal drink lots of fluids.

Students who donate this week will receive a free KU t-shirt, but more than that every person who donates will be saving lives.

Be somebody’s hero and donate blood this week. It won’t cost you anything but your time.

— Erin Brown for The Kansan Editorial Board.

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