Blood

One of the kindest things a person can do is donate blood. Donating blood can save lives and has benefits for both the recipient and the donor.

To donate blood, you need to be in good health, at least 16 years old (17 in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds, have not donated blood in the last 56 days, and be able to pass the physical and health-history assessments.  Most of the population is eligible to donate yet sadly too few actually do.

Not sure if you can?  Check with your nearest blood bank.  In San Francisco where I live, you can donate any day of the week.  This is true in most major cities.  In smaller communities, blood drives are held at schools, churches, and other locations.  Despite all of our scientific advances, we cannot create blood in a laboratory.  When someone needs a transfusion, it comes from the blood already donated and on hand.

If you already are a blood donor, thanks so much.  Keep it up.  Think about reaching out to friends, family, and coworkers.  Blood is always needed.