Give
Blood at St .Francis, CLICK HERE to Pre-Register,
(or, see other places & times to GIVE BLOOD at the American Red Cross - Locations & Hours.)
One of the most remarkable medical developments in the 1930's and 1940's was the blood-bank. Blood was taken from donors and was stored for later transfer into the bodies of those who had themselves suffered a major loss of blood. Blood giving has rather struck people as an act of charity and compassion towards those whose life is endangered. Particularly during World War II, those who were regularly donating to the American Red Cross blood banks would vie with each other to become "gallonaires"--donors of a gallon of their life blood.
The practice of donating one's blood spread everywhere. To the Christians of the world, the gift of blood was not only humane, but Christ-like. Pope Pius XII pointed this out in the fall of 1948 when praising a group of Italian donors for their true Christian generosity when he said, "Christ, the supreme and divine donor of His Blood, is your example in a particular way."
Those giving persons who donate their life blood to strengthen others usually experience the warm glow that comes from any act of mercy. They have a right to that consolation. But a donor can make his gift even more sublime if he humbly recalls, as Pope Pius XII said that he is imitating Jesus when he gives of himself so that others may live.
WHO DONATES BLOOD?
Sixty percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, however less than 5 percent of healthy Americans actually donate each year. According to studies, the average donor is a college-educated white male, between the ages of 30 and 50, who is married and has an above-average income. However, a broad cross-section of the population donates every day. Furthermore, these "average" statistics are changing, and women and minority groups are volunteering to donate in increasing numbers.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Every 17 seconds, someone in the United States receives a blood transfusion
• One out of 10 people entering a hospital needs blood
• The average transfusion is 3.4 pints
• Females receive 57% of blood transfused; male receive 43%
• A newborn baby has one cup of blood in his or her body
• 97% of the population will receive a blood transfusion in their lifetime,
yet only 5 % of the population donates blood
• You CANNOT contract a disease, like AIDS, from donating blood
• You CAN be a donor if you are in good health, are at least 17 years
of age and weigh at least 110 pounds. There is no upper age limit.
• The donation process involves four steps: medical history, quick
physical, donation, and snacks
• The actual blood collection takes approximately 10-20 minutes.
The entire process takes about 45 to 60 minutes, from when you sign in,
to the time you leave.
JANUARY IS NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH!
