Importance of being a blood donor

Dear Editor,

In 2022, the American Red Cross declared the first-ever blood shortage crisis with the spread of the omicron variant. This left many health professionals to make tough decisions about who would receive life-saving blood transfusions. Although the number of donors has been steadily increasing, the shortage of blood persists. In fact, only 2-3 percent of Americans donate blood every year, but an estimated 38 percent are eligible.

One whole blood donation can potentially save three lives, but there are many different types, including plasma, platelet and power red donations, where the volunteer gives a concentrated amount of red blood cells. One car crash victim or surgical patient could need dozens of whole blood transfusions, while people with

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