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CG ShopSave 3 lives |
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| Written by CG Girl |
| Friday, 09 October 2009 20:24 |
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I first want to start off by saying “Thank you” to Toni for allowing me the opportunity to contribute to Chica Girl magazine; I can’t think of a better way to reach out to such an awesome group of young women. If given the opportunity to save 3 lives, we all would be standing in line to do our part! One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to donate blood! Every day in the United States someone needs blood every 2 seconds! In one way or another each of our lives will be affected by this. Whether the need for blood is for an accident victim, a child or an adult with cancer, a burn patient, a premature baby, or for someone simply having surgery; blood is one of the most important treatments in keeping them alive! There is no substitute for blood! In order to be able to donate blood you must be 17 years or older, be in good health at the time of your donation, and weigh at least 110 pounds. However in the up coming year you may donate blood at age 16 with parental consent and a minimum weight of 120 pounds. Approximately 60% of our population is able to donate, however only 5% of us do! Anxiety and fear play a role in keeping potential donors from donating. If you talk with other donors you will find out that the process is easy and what better way to contribute to our society than to give the “gift of life”. There are a few things that donors can do to help make their experience a pleasant one. • Make sure to get a good night’s sleep • Increase your intake of non-caffeine/non-alcoholic fluids prior to your donation and 24 hours after • Eat a well balanced diet days leading up to your donation as well as on the day of your donation; include foods enriched with iron • Avoid strenuous activity after your donation Many lives are touched every day by individuals like your self who take time out of their busy day to donate blood. January is designated as Volunteer Blood Donor Month and what better way to begin the New Year than to help save lives! I want to encourage you to donate blood; there is nothing more rewarding in life than to help another in such a vital way! If you are unable to donate, you can still make a difference by encouraging your family members and friends to donate on your behalf. For additional information regarding blood donation, please visit our web site at www.southtexasblood.org. Many Blessings to you all, Kristin Kristin Meyer, RNC, BSN Donor Advocate South Texas Blood and Tissue Center |
