Blood Donations

Hi! My name is Manbir Sanghera and I am a 3rd year student studying Molecular Environmental Biology. This is my sixth semester in BPSHI and my sixth semester interning for the community outreach committee. 

I have been organizing and volunteering at blood drives since my sophomore year in high school. I have had the opportunity to work with both Vitalant (formerly known as Blood Source) and American Red Cross. Through these experiences I have learned the importance of blood donations.

A single pint of blood can help save up to three lives; that’s a lot! The basic requirements for donating blood are: being 16 years or older (with parent consent), weighing at least 110 pounds, and being in general good health. They also recommend drinking a lot of water 1-2 days prior to your donation to ensure a positive donation experience. 

Some interesting facts about blood donating are that most of the U.S. population is eligible to donate but only about 3% actually do it. Blood donations are critically needed right now, especially because COVID-19 has decreased the amount of people donating. Every day in the U.S. patients need approximately 36,000 red blood cells, 7,000 platelets, and 10,000 plasma. These numbers are extremely high, but the help of donors goes a long way. Donate blood and help transform lives!