January is National Blood Donor Month, and we are going to discuss blood donation. Of course, many older adults cannot or should not donate blood, being as they are on blood thinners or generally have medical issues that preclude them from donating. This blog is not medical advice, if you have any concerns with whether or not you individually should be able to donate, please talk to your physician.
You Make a Difference Even if You Only Donate Once
Blood donation is vital regardless of how many times you donate. Of course, it is great if you are a frequent donor, but it is low commitment. You do not have to donate multiple times if you don’t like it or don’t want to keep donating, but I encourage everyone who is healthy enough to donate to do so. If you cannot for various reasons, that is totally alright.
Great Place to Volunteer
Even if you do not donate blood yourself, blood drives are great places to volunteer. They help you feel very connected to your community, and even though you never see where the blood donations end up, blood drives are very tangible. They are a great way to get involved.
Blood donation is so important, it helps save lives every single day. Please look into local blood drives around you. Look into donating plasma as well. That process is much longer than a blood donation.
Written by Brigid Stakelum
