No one is discussing blood. In some ways it is more valuable than money.
My husband and I went to give in our local Red Cross and learned that the LA
blood bank is critically low already and is so most of the year. In case of
an earthquake, we would be in dire states due to blood levels alone. On this anniversary of 9/11 when many of our fellow New Yorkers (my hometown) ran out to donate blood (I remember my mother talking about the line around the block at the Red Cross on 10th avenue) but many have never donated their blood since then. There are a lot of reasons people don't give:
- Most people don't think about the fact that blood is the only commodity to human beings that can not be bought or created(like medicine or food).
- Some people go to donate and they are turned away and never try again. Last time my husband went to give blood they turned him away since he had spent more than 6 months in Europe. But now it's a total of 5 years in Europe and he happily donated blood with me last week.
- For those who can not give blood there are other ways to assist, like volunteer to give out juice and cookies at the center. One of our friends has a blood disease that keeps her from giving, but she went with us and watched our son so we were both free to do so. For those who don't think they have the time, you can go to http://www.givelife.org/ and find a local blood drive or set up an appointment. I e-mailed a contact from the site and they called me back in a matter of minutes. Since we had an appointment it took less than an hour to go, give, drink our juice and cookies and go.
- Some think it doesn't help that much. I've been told that one pint of blood can save as many as three lives.
