Give the Gift of Blood and Save Some Lives this Summer #MissingType #DonateBlood #ad

As we head into the summer, there are a lot of fun plans being made. In my home, we're going to have a very busy season full of trips to the park, Lake Erie, the Akron and Cleveland Zoos, and of course, Cedar Point. We always try and stay as busy as possible during the warmer months, since the rest of the year in NE Ohio can be pretty brutal. We have to enjoy the sunshine while we can!

One activity that may not automatically cross our minds as must-do summer plans is blood donation. It's so easy to get caught up in all of the fun that we forget there's a 24/7 constant need for blood donations. Summer is when the need increases, as donations typically drop by around 20%. In fact, blood donation is something many patients across the country depend on because every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs a transfusion of donated blood. One in seven people entering the hospital end up requiring a blood transfusion.

Yep. One in SEVEN. That's a LOT of lives being saved by the gift of donated blood!

A common misunderstanding about blood usage is that accident victims are the patients who use the most blood. This is not accurate.
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Actually, people who receive the most blood include those:
- being treated for cancer
- undergoing orthopedic surgeries
-undergoing organ and marrow transplants
- undergoing cardiovascular surgeries
-being treated for inherited blood disorders

A very good friend of mine who I won't name for privacy reasons requires blood transfusions quite often due to a chronic, often crippling autoimmune disorder. These transfusions blood products help to keep her as stable as possible, allowing her to be the best mom she can be to her beautiful children.
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I have another loved one battling breast cancer, and I know that she, too, relies on the availability of blood transfusions products, should the need arise.

​Major disasters don't usually require large amounts of blood. In most cases, hospitals rely on the blood that is already on their shelves to save lives. You can help blood centers be at the ready by making sure blood is available before it's needed.

There is currently a serious need for blood types A, B, AB and O. These types cover a HUGE portion of our population. I, for one, am A+.
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Without A, B, AB and O blood types, life would – quite literally – not be the same. Can you imagine a computer keyboard without these crucial letters? How hard would it be to type everyday words without the use of A, B, and O?

My name would be impossible, and would end up looking like Rndy. I don't know about you, but I feel like there's a HUGE difference between Brandy and Rndy. My name needs the B and A just as much as our local, Cleveland LifeShare blood center does for the hospital patients it serves!

Did you know that blood can be donated every 56 days, up to six times a year? It's quick, painless, and one blood donation can save up to three lives. Every time you give the life-saving gift of blood, you become a real life hero.

In addition to donating blood you can also donate platelets, which help treat cancer and other patients. They only have a shelf life of five days, so platelet donations are always needed.
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Another blood product there's always a need for is plasma, which has the same lifesaving effect and is in even greater need. Plasma contains important proteins and nutrients which help treat severe burns, traumas, blood clotting disorders, organ transplants and premature infants.

I've donated blood many, many times. It's super-easy.First, you just need to fill out an easy health history questionnaire to make sure you qualify as a donor. The knowledgeable nurses and staff from United Blood Services will be more than happy to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about the donation process.

So why not show your kiddos what a REAL, true blue hero looks like by donating blood this summer? The need is especially great, as donations tend to drop off a whopping 20% during the summer season. Your donation isn't only appreciated, it's desperately needed.
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Do YOU have the Missing Type?

Will you join me? Will you give this precious gift this summer and and save some lives, super-hero style?

It's fast. It's painless. It feels wonderful to know you've made a difference in someone else's life in a major, major way.

To learn more about how YOU can donate blood, please visit LifeShare to learn more!

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