Hi Everyone,
Everyone can roll up their sleeves, yet not everyone can give blood. This is what I mean.
Earlier this week as I was racing out of the unexpected rain, I stopped in front of a blood donour clinic. It was in the concourse of Yonge and Bloor under the Royal Bank. For the last few weeks I have wanted to give blood but didn’t pursue the thought when my life got busy. Even though I had a lot to do, I made time to donate.
One thing I did not know was that there is an extensive screening process. After a person registers they have to complete a series of questions on a computer before they read a pamphlet and proceed to a cubicle to be asked more questions by a human.
Most questions are expected. Like do you have AIDS/HIV? Have you been in the company of a person of ill repute? (I paraphrased that one). Have you had unprotected sex? You know, things like that. Like I said, the expected questions. But the questions I wasn’t expecting were the most upsetting and eye-opening.
The first question that upset me, and the reason I am writing this blog, was if the person wanting to donate had injected drugs in the past. (There are several extensive questions about drug use.) The other question asked if the person wanting to donate blood was on medication. Both are reasonable questions considering one donation is used to help three people. But just how many people aren’t on medication and with the growing number of people using drugs haven’t injected them?
With people living longer due to medical interventions like medications, more violent crimes being reported and drug use on the rise, will there be enough qualified blood donours to meet the growing need? I am of the belief that there won’t be. Donating blood may be the best thing that any qualified person can do. When donating blood can help, or in some cases save, three lives it is more valuable than money.
If you can donate blood I would suggest you do so. You may be saving your own life.
Thank you for reading, A. Rebel’s Rant! ;D
by 
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