Donating Blood, Speech Example

More than 4.5 million patients require blood transfusions each year. That means that two people need blood every second. However only 37% of the population is eligible to donate blood due to their health status, and only 10% of the population actually does donate blood (Blood Centers of the Pacific, n.d.). This means that most of the 4.5 million patients that need to receive a blood transfusion will not be able to get the treatment they need. In many cases, people are put on a long waiting list for blood transfusions, and many die in the process. It is therefore important to donate blood. There are many people in need that can literally die without your help.

Donating blood is a simple and beneficial process. There are many blood drives around the state, held at a regularly occurring basis. The local Red Cross and hospital regularly run blood drives, and many schools and religious institutions also encourage people to take part in these events. When you arrive at a blood donation event, a nurse or medical assistant will greet you and provide you with a survey to determine if you are eligible to donate. The survey will ask you basic questions about your disease history in addition to information about your travel experiences. If you are deemed eligible to donate, you will be brought over to a section with a reclining chair and be asked to sit. The needle will be inserted in your arm, and the actual donation process will usually not exceed 20 minutes. At the end, you are provided with water and sugary treats like cookies to ensure that your blood sugar level is appropriate. When you are ready, you are able to leave.

It is important to consider that blood donation is a relatively quick and painless process. A majority of blood donors report no pain following the donation and many people are repeat donors. These people recognize that giving 20 minutes of their own life could save the life of another. As such, repeat donors tend to come to donation events every few months. Individuals with rare blood types, such as O and AB, are asked to come more frequently due to the high prevalence of individuals that would benefit from receiving blood of these types.

It is important to inform the public about the benefits of blood donation. Even though many people are afraid of needles, it is necessary to emphasize that coping with this fear could save the lives of many. If you have a family member that has ever needed a blood donation, consider that this was only made possible because a volunteer willingly gave their time – and blood – to make this recovery possible. Individuals that are in car accidents, have cancer, or have HIV are the individuals that need blood transfusions the most. Think about how many people find themselves in one of these three categories and consider what will happen if blood is not available. If you were in this situation, would you want blood to be available? If so, consider donating. The more people that donate blood, the less we will have to worry about extreme situations like these.

As a population, it is our responsibility to look out for others. Donating blood is one way to do so. If you believe that you have what it takes to help solve the blood shortage, reach our to your local blood center today. The many people in need of blood transfusions will thank you for your time, and you never know, your action may end up saving your own life one day as well.

References

Blood Centers of the Pacific. (n.d.). 56 Facts about Blood and Blood Donation. Retrieved from http://www.bloodcenters.org/blood-donation/facts-about-blood-donation/