Janice understands the benefits of donating blood and how important it is to keep donating blood and platelets, since the need never ends. She started donating blood as a teenager and has since made more than 300 blood and platelets donations.
“I make a commitment to get in at least once a month,” she said. “It’s a huge priority in my life! I feel pleased to be able to do a small part in helping others.”
Janice knew blood donation was important because she had gone with her mom to the local blood bank. She cried upon learning that she couldn’t donate yet at age 16, but as soon as she turned 17, she got parental permission to start donating.
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“In between having babies and a couple of medical needs, I’ve kept on giving. About 15 years ago, my sister-in-law developed cancer. When I witnessed the importance of platelets for cancer patients, I switched over to platelets.”
Whether you donate once a month or once every 56 days, your regular blood donations are so important to patients. Think about it — hospitals never close because there are always patients who need treatment. And every two seconds, one of those patients needs a transfusion. Every day, more than 40,000 units of blood, platelets and plasma are needed for patients in the United States.
One of the main benefits of donating blood on a regular basis is ensuring there is enough blood available to save these lives. It’s estimated that if everyone who gives blood once upped their frequency to two or three times a year, or invited a few people to become blood donors, there would never be blood shortages. (Refer a friend to Vitalant, and you’ll see how rewarding it can be to multiply your impact.)
Is donating blood good for you, too? Of course it is! There are plenty of benefits to the donor as well. Each time you donate, you get a mini-physical, which includes a blood pressure, hemoglobin and cholesterol check. Blood donors have been alerted to their own serious health issues thanks to that benefit of donating blood.
If you’re a member of Vitalant’s Rewards program, you’ll receive tangible benefits for donating blood such as gift cards, T-shirts and the chance at winning big giveaways.
And, of course, the intangible benefit of saving lives — its positive effect on your emotional health — is a major reason donating blood is good for you, too:
“Anyone considering being a donor should know that the commitment to donate is lifesaving!” Janice said. “And the blessing of their donation pays you back tenfold just in the way you feel about yourself after realizing the difference it makes!”