by D Dupont-Day

Created on: May 14, 2008

I can think of many very valid reasons to donate blood and very few, if any, reasons not to. There are the philanthropic reasons, of course: you are saving lives. But these reasons rarely convince an undecided donor to part with his bodily fluid. So, if I may, I am going to offer up a few reasons you may not have considered.

Want to be a super hero and save someone's life? You don't have to run into a burning building. You don't have to jump in front of a moving train to rescue the damsel in distress tied to the railroad tracks. You don't have to find a cure for the common cold. All you have to do is donate a small pint of blood. You will be saving more lives than you can imagine. And you don't have to wear red tights and a cape: your regular clothes will do.

Want to feel like a Queen / King? Donate blood. You will be treated like the savior of the world. You will be pampered, coddled and regarded as if you were the most important person on the planet. And to be honest, you are. People are genuinely thrilled to see you. They cater to your needs, talk to you, and interact with you from the moment you step through the doors at the blood donation center.

There are many people, like me, who have no health insurance, and unfortunately, can not afford to go see a doctor. No problem. Donate blood. By donating a pint of blood I guarantee that 3 or 4 times a year I get a mini physical exam and don't have to pay a penny for it. The medical professionals at the donation site will immediately test your blood pressure, your pulse, your temperature, and your iron level. They take 3-4 vials of blood and test them for Hepatitis, Cholesterol, HIV/AIDS, and other autoimmune diseases. About a week later, you will receive a letter in the mail thanking you for your donation and a card indicating your blood type and cholesterol level.

They give you cookies!

In a world where you are running here and there doing this and that for everyone else BUT you, donating blood allows one hour where YOU become the priority. Your every need is addressed. You will not only be allowed to, but are required to stop, put your feet up and relax for an hour. I actually saw a donor having her feet rubbed during a donation once because she had a cramp in her foot.

They give you coffee, tea, juice and cookies. Snacking here is encouraged and you don't have to feel guilty about eating as many cookies as you want.

I have met and spoken with some very interesting people while donating blood. These are people I may never have had a chance to meet otherwise. Some of them have become characters in The Great American Novel I am writing.

So you see there are some very good, if not selfish, reasons for giving blood. Consider it. It may sound trite, but the reality is "The life you save may just be your own."

But whether you donate blood for good reasons or selfish reasons, I really can't think of one good reason NOT to give blood

Oh did I mention the cookies?

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