If blood is essential, why not donate it?
Why is your blood important? Blood plays a huge part in how the body functions. It delivers essential substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells of your body and also assists in the transport of carbon dioxide and other waste products away from the cells and throughout the kidneys, lungs, and digestive system, where they're then flushed out of the body. Blood also help your body fight infections as well as healing cuts or wounds. The heart works to pump blood through our bodies through the arteries and veins. We cannot live without blood as it is a vital body fluid that performs a multitude of functions that help our bodies to function and survive.
A few functions of blood include:
- Supplies oxygen to the bodies cells and tissues
- Supplies nutrients such as glucose, amino acids and fatty acids
- Assists in the removal of bodily waste such as carbon dioxide, urea and lactic acid
- Builds body immune by the moving of white cells throughout the body to help protect and prevent against infections and disease
- Regulates body temperature
- Coagulates to aid in the bodies self-repair mechanism
- Acts as a messenger for hormone transportation and damage of tissues
- Aids in the regulation of your Ph level in the body
Importance of donating blood
Almost 7 million people in the U.S donate blood annually. Donated blood is used for a multiple amount of reasons such as blood transfusions for patients who've experienced an extreme loss of blood from traumatic injuries, patients in need of surgery and also cancer treatment patients.
Now more than ever, it has become a crucial time to donate blood. As per The American Red Cross, they are currently facing a "national blood crisis – it's worst blood shortage in over a decade." To add to that, they've also reported they have been experiencing a 10% decline in the number of people donating blood since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and during. There have been a low donor turnout, blood drive cancellations and staffing limitations due to the ongoing pandemic.
For more facts on the importance of donating blood please visit the American Red Cross's Facts About Blood Supply page.
If you would like to make an appointment to give blood today, sign up here: https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html
