Week 4, Rest Day

I will not be working out today - I am donating blood!

I am a fairly regular donor because I definitely see the importance of it. You can donate every 56 days, and I stick pretty close to that when I can. Here are just a few facts taken from the Red Cross website on why you should too!

• Every two seconds someone in the US needs blood - in 2006, 5 million patients received blood in the US alone
• More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer every year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood
• Two most common reasons cited by people who don't give blood are: "Never thought about it" and "I don't like needles"
• One donation can help save the lives of up to three people
• Share of the US population eligible to give blood: Less than 38 percent

For more interesting statistics: http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-facts-and-statistics

Of course it's not necessarily an 'enjoyable' process (I don't like needles either!), but when you think of what you are doing or the fact that millions of people require blood each year, it should help motivate you (And usually they give out free food or snacks wherever you donate!). If less than 38 percent of the population is eligible, what fraction of that actually donates?

Go DONATE! Workouts can wait until tomorrow!