DONATION
Don’t wait for CDC visit to give blood

The combination of blood and needles makes some people queasy.

Yet giving a pint of blood and the benefits it provides to someone else are important. The Red Cross Web site says you can save up to three lives with each blood donation. Unfortunately, not enough people roll up their sleeves and share a pint.

Thursday, representatives from Carter Bloodcare were at the Health and Wellness Fair in the University Recreation Center so students, faculty and staff could donate pints of blood. But we don’t have to wait for an on-campus occasion to give blood. There are two Carter Bloodcare facilities in close proximity to campus. One is on Forest Park, the other is on South Hulen.

You might have read this week about a blood quarantine in Georgia and Tennessee after unknown particles were found in donations. The CDC is currently running tests to learn more about the particles, which they believe to be blood clots, but they do know they are not infectious.

This scare only underscores the need for more blood. Donations are thoroughly tested for safety, and if units have to be discarded as in Georgia and Tennessee, surgeries must be postponed and blood must be shipped from other parts of the country.

Yes, giving blood is not the most fun thing to do, but after the initial needle prick, how much pain are you really in? You even get juice and a cookie when its over. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all got juice and cookies after we did things we weren’t excited about doing but knew we should anyway?