money Give the gift of life through a blood donation this holiday season
There is one gift you can give this holiday season that is always perfect. It is not subject to supply chain issues. It will never be returned or regifted, nor will you ever see it on the shelves of a thrift store. This magical all-purpose gift, welcomed by all, is the gift of life through blood donation.
The holidays are a rough time for blood collection. The need doesn’t go away. Surgeries still happen, traumas unfortunately tend to increase and therapies provided through transfusion are still needed.
However, the supply of willing donors wanes. People are busy preparing for the holidays and traveling. Social commitments increase. And, perhaps most significantly, high schools and colleges will shortly be out of session, which means a pause in on-campus blood drives. Fun fact: People in the 16-24 age group account for approximately 20% of blood donated!
While there are a few exclusions due to medical history or travel, the eligibility criteria set by the Food and Drug Administration change. You might be surprised to find out that although you were previously not eligible, you might be now. The vast majority of people can donate, but only 3% actually do.
This holiday season, we encourage you to either continue donating or consider donating for the first time. What better way to share the spirit of the season, no matter how or what you celebrate, than saving the life of a neighbor, friend or co-worker?
LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is the sole provider of blood to all hospitals in Alachua County, and many in our surrounding counties. Whether you’re a veteran being treated at the Veterans Affairs hospital, a pediatric cancer patient receiving therapy or a trauma victim in Alachua County, LifeSouth answers the call.
The more variety we have in our blood supply, the closer we can match with patients. Blood is more than types such as A, O and AB. There are many antigens that might mean you’re a perfect match to provide blood, platelets or plasma that will provide relief for those receiving treatment for sickle cell disease or other conditions. But we’ll never know unless you donate.
Donating blood is easy. You can make an appointment at a local donor center or find a mobile blood drive at www.lifesouth.org. Many of our mobile drives are likely located at retailers you’ll be visiting over the holidays anyway.
If you have questions about your eligibility and personal history, you can find answers to many of them on our website. If you have a specific question about your history and eligibility, a call to our medical office will connect you with experts in the field who will be happy to discuss your situation.
If, by any chance, you are one of the few who can’t donate blood, there are other ways to help. The LifeSouth Community Foundation provides education to K-12 students about the science of blood and blood donation. We also provide scholarships to high school students who help organize blood drives and advocate for blood donation. The foundation supports local schools which host blood drives as well. Find out how you can help at www.LifeSouthCommunityFoundation.org.
We wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season!
Robin Politowicz is manager of the LifeSouth Community Foundation.
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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Robin Politowicz: Give the gift of a blood donation
