Race for the Cure

This past Saturday, I volunteered with Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. My active-blood-donor sister got an email to blood center donors asking for volunteers and after learning that we would earn a t-shirt and visor, we quickly signed up to help! MVRBC donors and staff were volunteering at the fundraising race because approximately 17% of all blood transfusions nationally are for cancer patients.

We had participated in the race when we were younger, but had never volunteered at the event before. We arrived bright and early on Saturday morning to learn exactly what our job entailed. We got to sit in chairs near the finish lines (yes lines, there were two lengths of races so two finish lines) equipped with cutters. Our job was to clip the zip ties that held the tracker/timer chips onto the participants shoes. It was a pretty simple task for the beautiful morning. I enjoyed the morning of volunteering - it was fun to be a part of such a large community event and spend time with my sissy!

  Fun  Facts:

• 1 in 7 patients entering our hospitals will need a blood transfusion.
• Only 38% of people are eligible to give, less than 10% do.

Bonus: There is a new baby giraffe at my local zoo! (He is just 6 ft tall and 150 lbs!!)

Donating Blood

My little sister's recent motivation (she gets so excited a week or two before and then for a few days after she continues to talk about how she is saving lives), inspired me to donate blood at my local blood center (Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center) today. I had donated twice-ish in high school and had fine experiences, but did not make it a priority while I was in college. It is a pretty simple process and an easy way to help others!

The Blood Donating Process:
1. Registraion (and had to have my address changed since I had not been there for over 5 years)
2. Medical Check (temperature, blood pressure, iron level, height/weight) and Pre-Screen Questions
3. Make Donation
4. Enjoy Refreshments

It is a simple and easy process! The donating went really well (I felt good during the whole thing - those warnings on the paper you sign made me nervous) and I got to have a cup of orange juice! While, I was donating I talked to some of the workers and they mentioned how it is a pretty positive atmosphere to work in because all of the donors want to be there and they get to know the regular donors. After I was done, I got some thank you's and two cookies! (Everyone is so kind and there were so many snack choices!) The whole process lasted about an hour. I didn't really think of donating blood as volunteering, but it is - you give your time and literally part of yourself to help others in need. I helped someone live today (or I will help them soon after they insure that my blood is healthy) and I feel great about it! (And I don't even have a bruise!) The pint of blood that I gave today will go to local hospitals (MVRBC serves more than 70 hospitals in IA, IL, WI, and MO) and could help up to three people!

(P.S. I took my camera to the donor center so I could add some pics to this story, but there were a lot of donors today so I decided to just let that idea go - sorry!)


Side Note: So, in other parts of the country the American Red Cross collects blood donations. That leads me to CPR/AED Awareness Week. Check out this quiz about CPR/AEDs! (I got all the answers correct! Thank goodness, because I teach this to others!)