Free Life Advice - Be Diet Batman

Philanthropy is important. Giving of your time, talent and treasure and serving something greater than yourself is an integral part of being a well-rounded person. It's one of the keys to 'winning' adulthood. There are uncountable merits to giving money, providing services, and helping others in need. However, what could be a more meaningful gift than the gift of life?

Just the other day I gave blood at a local blood drive and I feel damned good about it. For no cost to myself other than about half an hour of my day, and a tiny prick in the arm I potentially saved the lives of three different people. Let that sink in for a second, for the cost of half an hour of my time (which doubled as a needed break from work) I can return decades of life to three different people who would have otherwise lost their lives. Get this, let's say each person who benefits from my donation lives an extra 30 years after their emergency. Three lives saved multiplied by 30 years each equals 90 years. My half of hour given (which is only .0057% of my year) is multiplied 1,576,800 times to return 90 years. I dare you to find an investment that has a 1,576,800 return rate. I dare you.

Here's just a few more stats for you (courtesy of the Red Cross). In the United States someone needs blood every two seconds, that's 43,200 people per day. The estimate is the there is a 97% chance that someone you know will need a blood transfusion. Here's the kicker, if only one additional percent of the United States population gave blood annually, the need for blood would essentially disappear. One more percent of Americans and the problem goes away. Here's another dare, find me a government/health care/political problem that could be solved as easily or logically.

I have given blood 20 times in my life, and plan to do so at every opportunity (donating blood is on a 56 day cooldown) until they tell me not to come back. My 20 donations have saved 60 lives, that practically makes me Diet Batman. Be like me, be a superhero. Man or woman up and take the little tiny prick in the arm and spend half an hour giving a child their parents back. Spend half an hour returning a wife to her husband. This is my challenge to you: take a sore arm for the team and return three people their lives.

Comments

[Derek]

I love giving blood. On top of everything James already mentioned, it's an excuse to relax on a pillowed hospital bed, get taken care of by some (sometimes) good looking nurses, and get some cookies and juice at the end. And afterwards, you can go have some drinks and get drunk all the easier/cheaper/awesome. On top of that, people think all the more of you if you're being kind enough to donate on a regular basis. Maybe even get a high five from the boss. There is no downside. DO IT.

[James Gerstner]

Well said! Do it!!