Last Friday started off like any other Friday, but as we winded down those last few hours on the clock before heading home to see our families, we learned about a tragic scene unfolding in Paris. Terrorists attacks at a restaurant, a soccer match and at a music venue left 129 people dead, 350 injured and a country in mourning.
In the past few days people from all over the world have showed their support for the people of Paris. Small gestures like adding the French flag filter on their Facebook page or using the hashtag #PrayForParis lets the city know that they are in our thoughts and prayers, but we can do so much more. We’re not here to criticize those passive gestures of support – it was amazing to see so many people don the red white and blue filter on Facebook this week – and while those gestures help get important conversations started, there are other things we can do to provide tangible support to the victims of the tragedy in France. I’m talking about donating blood.
Blood Donation Facts
When you think about blood donation, the average person’s response is, “I should probably make more of an effort to donate blood on a more regular basis.” Unfortunately, many people don’t follow through on this thought, and nothing ever changes. Sure you might donate blood when your school or work sponsors a blood drive, but when was the last time you made the decision to go out and donate blood without the drive coming to you?
I’m guilty of it too, but I want to change that in the future, because blood donation is vital for so many people. According to the Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, and more than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day. Here’s some more amazing facts about blood donation:
- If you began donating blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached 76, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood, potentially helping save more than 1,000 lives!
- One donation of blood can help save up to three lives.
- You can click here to see blood donation centers in the Twin Cities.
We know that finding time to get to a donation center can be difficult, especially as the holidays approach, but please, consider finding a way to make a tangible difference to those in France and those in our own backyard who need blood. Whether it’s in the form of a blood donation, volunteering your time at a blood drive or simply making a contribution to the American Red Cross or the French Red Cross, your support may make the difference in someone else’s life.