Have you ever considered giving blood? Why not!

Happy donor at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service
Well… if the idea of needles makes you squeamish it’s probably best not.
But for everyone else… I (a regular blood donor), give you (a potential lifesaver) five reasons to consider giving blood this month.
1. Become a lifesaver overnight
You can save three lives simply by donating an hour of your time (and less than 500ml of your blood). You’ll feel great knowing one third of blood donations help treat people with cancer and your blood is so versatile it can be made into 22 different medical treatments. One in three Australians will need blood or blood products in their lifetime and therefore your blood is invaluable. If you need any more convincing, read these stories about real and thankful blood donation receivers.
2. You feel like a hero
Now I know the purpose of your donation should be selfless, but if you are looking for a way to feel good about yourself, this is it! You not only get treated fabulously by the staff and receive cute supportive and thankful text messages, but you also get a fake newspaper in the mail with your name as a headline labelled HERO!
3. There’s free food and wifi
What more could you want? Just like the DUSA free food stalls, the Red Cross provide some good quality nourishment at no cost. Free coffee, juice, iced chocolate, biscuits, bags of chips, cookies… you name it. Plus you don’t feel guilty at all because the staff encourage you to eat.
4. Catch up with friends
It’s nearing the end of the semester and your student budget is a little tight? Why not get a bunch of friends together and spend a free afternoon at the Red Cross Blood Service. As I said, there’s free coffee (and cookies) and you’ll be helping people in need. Honestly, I’ve seen a whole family of about ten make a day (and feast) of it.
5. It’s no inconvenience to you
Well it’s an hour out of your time (15min donation, 45min appointment) but honestly how many of us waste that precious time scrolling through Facebook or Instagram? Do something practical instead! Plus, you’ll get that blood you gifted back in no time. The nurses and staff will make sure you’re well looked after and only donate if fit and healthy.