20 Things You Can Do Today to Make The World a Better Place
By Lacy Baugher
Think about all the vampires your blood donation will help! (Photo: Mutant Enemy/20th Century Fox)
Donate Blood
Donating blood is one of the biggest impacts you can make on the world around you. The need for blood at hospitals around the country is constant. It’s used for the treatment of accident victims, cancer patients, hemophiliacs, pregnancy complications, surgery patients and more. About one in every seven people entering a hospital needs blood. It can’t be manufactured, and can only be stored for a limited time before use.
Regular blood donations by a significant number of the population are critical to ensure that hospitals have a healthy supply, and that blood will be available whenever and wherever it is needed. Yes, needles can be (extremely) terrifying, but a decision to donate blood can literally save a life. According to the World Health Organization, it can even save several if your blood is separated into its components — red cells, platelets and plasma — which can be used individually for patients with specific conditions.
It may turn out that you’re not eligible to donate. A large portion of the population isn’t, for various reasons. But if you can, it can help make a huge difference in the lives of others. And all for just an hour of your time. It’s worth it to at least check out whether you’re eligible to donate. And you’ll be saving the world for someone in your community if you do.