Know where to donate blood

I am always surprised when I read about blood shortages all over the world, but when there is a good story involved, suddenly donors line up. Remember after 9/11 when most of the blood wound up being thrown away? There were so many blood donations coming in, many more than needed, exceeding the demand from those wounded by far. Meanwhile, all over the United States blood shortages kept on existing, but because there was no publicity surrounding them, we didn’t see much of an improvement overall.

I am always happy when national news highlight a need and people react. But as in the latest case, there have been so many donations coming in, it makes me wonder why those reading the appeals to the public wind up saying “I wished I didn’t live so far” when in reality the demand is met. Yet they don’t find out where within their region a need is in existence as well.

Blood shortages occur because O negative blood is often given in emergency situations regardless the victim’s blood type, so when an O negative is in need of a transfusion, he or she often cannot find an O negative blood donor. The other problem is of course, that when you are O negative and donating, you can likely count on a lifetime of harassment by the blood bank. They won’t pay you a part of the money they make with your blood, but they employ callers or call centers to tell you that it is your duty to donate.

If you want to help, find out where.