Blood is the most precious and powerful gift that we can proudly give to another life. Our blood contains a myriad of components essential to life and health. Our blood can be readily transformed and tailored to meet the need of an individual patient, such as acute loss of blood or chronic illness. It is such an achievable, yet priceless pride that is endowed to every human being.

On average a healthy adult has around 10 pints of blood in his body. Only 10% of blood is drawn at each blood donation. Fortunately our bone marrow has this amazing ability to renew blood. We can quickly and easily replace the amount of blood we donate. A healthy adult can donate one pint of blood every 56 days. The amazing power of blood donation is that each donation of one pint of blood can potentially save up to three lives. If we start donating blood at age of 17 and donate 1 pint of our blood every 56 days, each of us is blessed with the power to save more than 1000 lives by the age of 76!

There is a constant and urgent demand of blood for health care of patients. Every two seconds one patient in the US needs blood or its derived products. About one in seven patients entering a hospital needs blood. 4.8 million Americans would die every year without blood transfusion. Unfortunately, blood cannot be stored for long period. Neither can blood be manufactured. The only reliable and lasting source of blood is compassionate donors like you. Regular blood donations by a sufficient number of healthy people are needed to ensure that safe blood will be available whenever and wherever it is needed. However not every human being is healthy enough to donate blood.

Only 37% of our country’s population is eligible to give blood. What makes the shortage of blood more dire and urgent is that less than 10% of the eligible donors donate annually. If you are eligible for blood donation, you are blessed with the power to give the gift of life.

Blood donation is a community’s responsibility. While you are reading this, one patient in our community needs blood. This patient could be a victim of an auto accident, a victim of hemophiliacs, a victim of acute loss of blood, and so on.

Let’s show the pride and compassion of our community. Donate blood and be a hero!