Editorial: Donating blood is simple and desperately needed

Every two seconds, someone is in need of blood. According to the American Red Cross, however, only 5 percent of the eligible United States population donates blood in any given year. With healthy donors being the only source of blood, there is no other way of collecting it.

With the UConn Red Cross Club holding a week-long blood drive until Oct. 2, students will have the opportunity to change that statistic. Nearly five million people receive blood transfusions per year, whether in times of emergency or for those who have blood diseases such as cancer or sickle cell anemia. Some require daily blood transfusions in order to survive. Donating blood is easy and convenient, but many people dismiss blood donation based upon common misconceptions.

A popular excuse for avoiding blood donation is that people are too busy. Between exams, work and maintaining a social life, making an appointment to donate is likely at the bottom of most students' lists of priorities, if it's even there at all. But the truth is, the blood donation process takes only about an hour, and for those with needle phobias, the actual blood donation time is just seven to 10 minutes. Instead of wasting that hour between classes to check your Facebook at Bookworms, you could use it to potentially save up to three lives.

Furthermore, many may believe that they do not have any blood to spare. The average adult body contains 10 to 12 pints of blood and for healthy participants (a requirement for donors), even giving on a regular basis is fine as the body can quickly replace fluids lost within 24 hours. For donors who have previously provided blood earlier this year, they can contribute a second time because donors are allowed to give every 56 days. Also, regardless of whether it is your first time donating or your 15th, a trained staff member will ask health history questions as well as take your temperature, iron level, blood pressure and pulse. In other words, your personal well-being comes first.

With more than 38,000 donations needed each day, blood is in high demand and healthy college students are the ideal demographic to make a difference. But before you sign up, check to make sure you meet all of the requirements such as age and body weight. After donation, you can walk away a little taller. Donating blood is more than just a good excuse to snack on cookies and juice or have your roommate carry the grocery bags up four flights of stairs - it's making a direct impact in someone's life.