Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’ve been talking about Valentine’s Day. While you’re buying red roses or red, heart-shaped boxes of candy, take a moment to think about something else that’s red: blood.
Blood is essential for treating accident victims, surgery patients, organ transplant recipients and many others, and the only source is from blood donors. There is no artificial substitute for all the benefits donated blood provides. Dr. Ravi Sarode, director of transfusion medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the easiest way to save a life is to give blood, and yet only about 5 percent of eligible American blood donors do so.
For information on whether you’re an eligible donor and where you can give blood, contact your local blood center or the American Red Cross.
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February 2008
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