It doesn’t always take a lot of money, education or influence to make a difference in the lives of other people.
Sometimes it only takes an idea, a commitment and an effort.
Whoever first had the idea to have a bus equipped with a bunch of phlebotomists — the people trained to draw blood from a person — deserves a medal.
It makes giving blood just about as simple as laying on the couch and chatting with a friend.
The Memorial Blood Center’s “bloodmobile” is a frequent visitor to Borderland, making stops at various places where organizations and businesses are conducting blood drives.
But that frequency isn’t enough to ensure a healthy supply on hand. In fact, the center last week put out a call saying it was dangerously low in all types of blood and encouraging participation at a Packaging Corporation of America drive.
And this week, the website notes that it is low on types O and B-negative.
But giving blood should be someone else’s worry. Right? Not yours.
Ensuring a healthy supply of blood should be everyone’s worry. The center’s website says one out of three people will need blood in their lifetime for a variety of reasons, ranging from injury in natural disasters to unforeseen catastrophes, emergency hospital procedures to life-long battles with chronic diseases such as sickle cell.
The demand for blood is constant. The supply is not. And since there is no substitute, only volunteer blood donors can roll up their sleeves and save lives.
Next time you see the bus, or someone calls you to ask you to give blood, think about your spouse and children, parents and siblings. Can you imagine them dying because there simply wasn’t enough blood to save them?
This is your chance to make a difference by laying on a couch and making a new friend, who just happens to be a phlebotomist.
