It’s almost Christmas. It’s that time of the year when we should pay more attention to us, and to our families. But we should also not forget about people whose lives are critically endangered because they lie in a hospital bed in need for a surgery which cannot be done because the existent blood shortage.

 

It is not a novelty that fewer people than ever are willing to donate blood. The American Red Cross says every day more than 38,000 people in the US must have blood to help treat everything from planned surgeries to car accidents. Their lives are critically endangered when the blood they so much need is not available.

 

So if you are at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds and also in good shape you can be one of the people saving a person’s life. There are many people saying their diseases make them unable to donate blood. But people with asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, high blood pressure or people who have had a heart attack, stroke, surgery, vaccines, mononucleosis or tooth extraction and are recovered are all eligible to donate.

 

Donors are urged to drink lots of water, get a good night’s sleep and eat a nutritious meal before donating blood in order to avoid donation-related problems.

 

Every two seconds, someone needs blood, the American Red Cross estimates. Your blood can help a young mother, a grandfather or a neighbor celebrate another Christmas with their families. Are you going to help or not? Be good this Christmas!