We’ve got a crisis on our hands, and it’s not the latest TikTok trend or an avocado shortage. We’re talking about a severe blood drought. The life-giving, accident-saving, surgery-enabling fluid is in shorter supply than toilet paper during the whole pandemic debacle.
You might be thinking, “But I’m terrified of needles!” or “What if I faint?” or the ever popular “Isn’t blood kind of, well…icky?”
Let me address those concerns.
- Fear of Needles: Look, we’ve all been there. But those Red Cross blood drive technicians are experts. It’ll be a tiny pinch, and before you can say “Ouch!” you’ll be sporting a bandage like a badge of honor.
- Fainting: Okay, it can happen. But hey, free nap! Plus, they’ll have snacks ready to revive you. Consider it a blood donation with a side of cookies.
- The “Ick” Factor: Sure, blood’s a bit messy, but guess what? So is childbirth, surgery, or that time you tried to fix your own bike chain. We’re not squeamish about those, are we?
Approximately every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. That could be the car accident victim down the street, a mom with childbirth complications, or a child battling cancer. It could even be you or someone you love someday. The thing about needing blood is it’s rarely planned. It’s like needing a spare tire – you don’t think about it until you’re stranded on the side of the road.
Northern California community blood banks are experiencing an emergency blood and platelet shortage as communities face the lowest number of people donating blood in 20 years. While 38% of Americans are eligible to give blood, only about 3% donate regularly. Your blood donation is needed now to ensure life-saving medical procedures are not delayed. Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, but especially type O blood donors.
The problem is, unlike toilet paper, you can’t stockpile blood. It has a shelf life, and the only way to replenish the supply is through the kindness of regular people like us. Think of it as the ultimate community project, where the final product is saving lives.
And if the whole “be a good human” thing doesn’t move you, think of this: They give out cookies. Seriously, free cookies! Plus, orange juice, and that smugly satisfied feeling only a true hero gets to experience.
Here’s the deal, Los Gatos: The two Rotary Clubs in Los Gatos and the Red Cross are teaming up for a blood drive on March 16th from 8am-2pm at St Luke’s Episcopal Church in downtown Los Gatos. Ditch the excuses for an hour, put down your telephone, and do something that truly matters.
Here are some final thoughts to ponder as you contemplate your life-saving potential:
- You can’t buy blood at the store. (That would be weird, right?)
- Donating one pint of blood can save up to three lives. One pint! You’ve got more than that sloshing around.
- If vampires can make blood look cool, surely we can make donating look even cooler.
So, mark your calendars, Los Gatos! Roll up your sleeve (preferably in a dramatic fashion), and let’s show the world what a community of heroes looks like. Because let’s face it, when was the last time a TikTok dance saved a life? Let’s get those blood banks overflowing!
To sign up for the Los Gatos Rotary Clubs and Red Cross Blood Drive, visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive. The name of our blood drive is Los Gatos Rotary. Put in your zip code (e.g. 95032) and the date of the event. Registration can also be done on the day of the event.
Jeffrey P. Blum is a family law mediator who lives in Los Gatos. He can be reached at [email protected].
