The Blood Donation Speech

Good morning everyone. If I tell each of you that you can save 18 lives per year, would you believe me? First, I want to set a stage where we can directly connect to the situation. Imagine that your father has just suffered a heart attack and that he must undergo open-heart surgery in order to repair the damage. Imagine that your younger brother has suddenly ended up in a car accident, has lost substantial amount of blood, and quickly needs transfusions. There is a way we all can help, and this is by taking the time and making the effort to donate blood. We all live busy lives; we all have much to do; but, if we are lucky enough to have healthy blood, we have a moral responsibility to share it with others who may need it in a health crisis. This moral responsibility arises from the fact that we, as human beings, need to care for one another and blood donation is a crucial. Now, 38% of our population is actually eligible to donate blood. However, 5% out of 38% actually donate. This is a serious problem that requires an immediate action. Solution is so simple and easy: donating blood. According to American Red Cross, some of the reasons why people choose not to donate are some of the followings: being too old, being afraid of needles, being afraid of getting AIDS. Also, the most common reason is: “I’m too busy”. Some of these misconceptions should be cleared up. According to UCSS medical center, there is no upper age limit for blood donation as long as you are well with no restrictions or limitations to your activities. But, you can donate from the age of 17. Let’s talk about an amazing story about Mr. Barry Hyman. Mr. Barry Hyman has been donating blood for more than 50 years from his early 20’s. Until now, he has potentially saved the lives of more than 450 adults. Mr. Barry Hyman said, "I often talk to people about giving blood, the system is brilliant, the staff are wonderful and it costs you hardly anything in time and energy. After I gave blood once and thought about how essential it is that people like me carry on donating, I realized that there was no good reason to stop. As long as I am healthy, I will carry on giving blood." This proves that elders can still donate blood for others. Also, it is impossible to be infected with AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood because a sterile needle is used only once for each donor and discarded after. Thus, there is no reason to get AIDS by blood donation. For those of you who are busy, the actual blood donation usually takes about 10 minutes. The entire process-from the time you arrive in to the time you leave- takes about an hour. It’s about an hour of your time it takes for you to save someone else’s life. Keep in mind that your fear of needle worth of people’s lives. People who are benefitted from donation range from cancer patients to organ patients to surgical patients. Even premature infants and trauma victims benefit from blood donation. For those of you who have never donated blood before, the process is remarkably simple and easy. Step one is registration and checking health history. You will fill out the donor information form, and nurses will ask your sexual history and health. Step two is physical and health test. Your temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and hemoglobin level in a sample of blood will be checked. You are not only saving lives by donating blood, but also checking on your own health. Final step is the donation. Area on your arm will be cleansed and pierced with brand new sterile needle for the blood draw. It will feel like a quick poke and will be over in few seconds. You won’t even feel a thing while the needle is in your arm and drawing blood. After drawing the blood, you will be given snacks to help your body generate new blood. Now, that you know how easy and safe the solution is, you are good to help the lack of blood donations. Some people may be thinking “someone else will donate blood, so I don’t need to”. But that is not a valid reason for you to not donate blood and hide! The lack of blood donation is caused by people thinking like that. Every unit of blood you donate can save up to 3 lives. You can donate your bloods 6 times per year. Those 6 donations can help as many as 18 people, as I mentioned at the beginning. If you donate for just 10 years, you could save the lives of nearly 180 people. Who knows? The first could be someone far away who you’ve never met and never will. The second person could live in your town. But, the third person could be someone you know or maybe, it’s someone closer, like your friends or your family members, or even yourself! Everyone who needs blood has dreams and they are dying due to lack of blood donation. Give them more than just thought. Give them chances to live their lives. Please take opportunities to save them! Now, you know how simple blood donation is and the significance of your participation to save 3 lives. I want to encourage you to find passion about blood donation inside of your heart and be a regular donor.