Give Blood (Group 7)

Every minute of every day someone in America is saved through the blood donated by a selfless blood donor. However, only five percent of Americans take the time to do something as simple and convenient as giving blood. It is very important that people take the time to give blood because, the supply is completely dependent on the good nature of volunteers, and the blood donated is necessary for treating people with cancer, blood disorders, anemia, sickle cell, and many other sicknesses. Students at the University of Alabama have little excuse for not giving blood. With extra time between classes and blood mobiles readily available from Life South and the Red Cross, every student physically capable should give blood at least once a year.

Not everyone can give blood but those that can, have no excuse for not going through this convenient and simple process. It all starts with finding a place to give blood. Luckily, the University of Alabama has several locations. A blood mobile from either Life South or Red Cross stops between the Gorgas Library and Morgan Hall nearly every month. Most students go through this high traffic area at least once a day, but those that do not can call the Student Health Center and find out exactly when the blood mobile will come. You can also go to Druid City Hospital and schedule a time to give blood. When a student goes to give blood, they will complete a demographic, answer some health questions, and then show someone their student I.D. Next, a trained staff person will ask the student some personal questions and check the student’s pulse, iron level, temperature, and blood pressure. Then another trained staff member will clean the student’s arm and insert a needle into the cleaned spot. After seven to ten minutes a pint of blood should have been taken from the student, and the needle will be taken out. Lastly, the student will be lead to an area where he or she can partake of free refreshments and relax until his or her body is adjusted from the blood that was lost. Few complications result from giving blood, and those that do could have been prevented through proper eating and sleeping habits.

The process is simple and quick, but that is only one of the many reasons why students should give blood. Giving blood helps those that are unable to help themselves. It also takes so little of the blood donor’s time, but gives so much to those who receive the blood. There are countless stories of fellow Americans suffering with cancer, blood disorders, anemia, sickle cell, and many other sicknesses, who would not be here if it was not for that one hour of time one of their fellow Americans took to give blood.

Students should give blood because it takes nothing more than an hour of their time, but it gives to a cause that has a need. The blood that was lost by the donor is easily and fairly quickly replaced by the body. Improvements in medical technology have improved the way serious illnesses and injuries are treated. However, at the same time these improvements have increased the need for blood to support a patient through recovery. Also, a majority of those that need blood are the aging “baby boomers” who in return make up a large part of the donors. As they get older there will be less of a supply of blood and more of a demand. It is up to young people, such as the students at the University of Alabama, to fix this problem through giving blood.

Students should give blood because of the potential impact on not only the three people that their blood helped in saving, but also the families of those three people. Each blood donation is separated into three parts. They are red blood cells, platelet concentrates, and plasma. The red blood cells are usually used for surgeries, or in treating anemia. Platelet concentrates are important to the body’s clotting system, and they are used to control bleeding while leukemia and other forms of cancer are being treated. Plasma restores fluid volume in patients suffering from shock, and it provides a source of clotting proteins that stop bleeding. With just one donation many people can be saved and many problems can be helped.

Students should give blood because it is uncertain when they or someone they know might need blood, and the act of their giving blood might get other people to do the same. If everyone gave blood, there would be no worry of blood not being available when needed. Those that give blood could very well need blood later on. No one is exempt from the possibility of getting a disease that requires the use of blood in its treatment.

There are several small perks to giving blood. At the end of the blood donation process students are given free refreshments and a bandage on their arm. Students will be exempt from heavy lifting for the rest of the day, and giving blood will make students feel good about themselves.

Students at the University of Alabama should take the time to give blood at least once a year. The cost of giving blood is so small compared to what is gained. One hour of a student’s time has the potential to save lives.