Helping The Victims of American Under Attack

How to give blood and money - Who is eligible to donate blood?

I spent a good part of the day in shocked disbelief. It was just last summer, on a trip to New York City, that I stood across the street from the World Trade Center Towers in awe of such magnificent architecture.

I didn't spend much time watching the tragedy unfold on television because my 26-year-old daughter was completely grief-stricken. It took a great deal of the day to calm her down. I knew her continued television watching was not going to help, so I spent hours driving her around in the car to distract her until she finally began to feel less stressed. Although she felt like she was the only one having such a strong reaction, she was not unlike thousands of others who were immobilized by this unprecedented tragedy.

In times like these, the American Red Cross is always here to help coordinate help for the victims. However, this is a disaster of much greater proportion than any other ever seen on American soil. How can you help? Whether you are in New York City or Washington, D.C., or far across the country, there is much you can do to help. Two simple ways you can to help are to give monetary or blood donations:

To donate money to aid in this tragedy call the American Red Cross at 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669), (Spanish speakers call 1-800-257-7575), or click on the link in the right-side box to learn more about the various ways you can make monetary donations

Information about blood donations can be obtained by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or clicking the link, also in the right-side box. According to the Red Cross, "Your single donation can help save up to three lives."

Who Is Eligible to Donate Blood?

• People who are at least 17 and not older than 60, who are in generally good health.
  
  
• You must weigh at least 110 pounds.
  
  
• Your pulse should be between 80 and 100 beats per minute and not irregular.
  
  
• Your body temperature should not exceed 99.5.
  
  
• Systolic blood pressure should be between 90 and 139, while diastolic pressure should be between 60 and 90.
  
  
• Your skin should be free of any lesions or needle-prick scars which may indicate drug addiction or frequent blood donation.

What Disqualifies a Person From Donating Blood?

• Anyone who has ever tested positive for HIV is automatically disqualified.
  
  
• Anyone who has ever injected any substance that was not prescribed by a doctor.
  
  
• A man who has had sex with another man, even once, is disqualified for life.
  
  
• Hemophilia patients or anyone who has another blood clotting disorder who has received clotting factor concentrate.
  
  
• People who have had sex for drugs or money since 1977 are disqualified for blood donation.
  
  
• Those who have lived in western Europe anytime since 1980.
  
  
• Anyone who has been in a jail, prison, or detention center for over 72 hours in the last 12 months is disqualified.
  
  
• If you were born in, lived in, or had sex with someone who lived in, or who received blood products in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Niger, or Nigeria since 1977. (Because this list changes frequently, please visit Blood Donor Requirements for updates.)
  
  
• If you have had sexual contact with someone who fits this list, this you are also disqualified.

For more information about specific conditions, medications, and other issues that may or may not exclude your from blood donation visit the Blood Donor Requirements from Blood Book.com

Remember, giving blood is something you can do at any time during the year. Blood donations are always needed to help keep our blood supply ready for everyday use, as well as when disaster strikes. If you are eligible to donate blood, do it today!

Call your local Red Cross, or hospital to learn where to donate blood in your area. To find your local chapter of the American Red Cross, use the zip code search box on the Red Cross site.

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