Guapura 101: Latinos Should Donate Blood

Recently I voluntarily agreed to have a needle plunged into my arm so that I could donate blood to a stranger. Ew, right? You’re right, but, I say it’s important to stop for a minute and consider why you, too, should do this if you’re able. First, my own personal preference is not to donate to private companies because you don’t know if it’s going to be turned into a blood product, rather than be used to save people in your community. I always donate to places that I know will use the blood to help actual people.

Donating always sucks for me because my veins aren’t made for needles, but I do it because I know for a fact that blood saves lives. If I happen to get in a car wreck or need an operation, I want blood to be there for me, so I do my best do donate every 60 days or so, or when the blood center calls to remind me.

Another interesting point to consider is that Latinos/Hispanics tend to have certain blood types, as do other ethnic groups. Latinos have historically had low rates of blood donation, which could mean that in a pinch blood for Latinos could be scarce (worst-case scenario) in an emergency. Specifically, more than 70% of Latinos have either O+ or A+ blood, according to the Red Cross. Incidentally, Type O is the kind of blood that hospitals need the most, again according to the Red Cross, so by donating Latinos help their larger communities.

But don’t take my word for it. Here’s a bunch of info from the Red Cross on blood donation that I urge you to check out. Please share with us if you have ever donated or why you think it’s important to do so!