Every year, millions of people die due to a lack of healthy blood cells. They suffer from a variety of diseases – sickle cell anemia, cancer, hemophilia (to name a few) – and need blood donations that could save their lives. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay However, such a small percentage of Americans choose to take the time to go to a blood drive once every 56 days and take an hour to answer a few questions and take a quick pinch of the needle. Why? To ensure the safety of donors and recipients, there are a number of requirements for eligibility to donate blood. Typically, the donor must be in good health, at least 17 years old (although in some states 16-year-olds can donate blood with parental consent), and weigh at least 110 pounds. This leaves only about 38% of the American population eligible to donate (mostly due to their health). Overweight, which has become a serious problem in the country, is definitely not a good sign of health. This is another reason why people should take better care of their bodies, because you never know how many more lives you can save by donating blood, or even organs, to patients who might not otherwise survive. There are also many people who are genetically underweight, making them poor candidates for donating blood due to the impacts that drawing blood would have on their bodies. However, weight is not always a good indicator of health, and even if you fall within the weight criteria, it is important to ensure that you maintain a healthy diet and exercise regime. However, of the 120 million Americans who are eligible for blood donations, only 9.2 million of them actually donate blood. It is usually due to lack of knowledge of the immense positive effects or the very common fear of needles. Of course, almost no one likes being pricked with a needle, but that fear is nothing compared to the pain and fear that hospital patients feel when they are told that, without a blood transfusion, their life may be over. We can impact the lives of other generations by giving someone another chance to live. So I say it's time to overcome selfish fear and do something selfless and compassionate. Before donating blood you should eat a good meal, avoid fatty foods (which could affect the results of the fitness test), drink plenty of healthy fluids and get enough sleep. The process may not be a lot of fun, but it's totally worth it. In 2010, in the town of Brick, New Jersey, Molly Clare was born. After birth, she was immediately rushed to neonatal intensive care after being declared severely anemic and her life dependent on a blood transfusion. Thanks to a stranger's charitable act, she was able to get the blood she needed to survive and today she is a happy and healthy 4-year-old girl. Her parents say they have donated blood regularly since that terrifying day and would like to be able to personally thank the donor who saved their daughter's life. This is one of many stories of a life saved through blood donation and should serve as an encouragement and wake-up call about how your actions can impact the lives of others. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Adults have about 10 pints of blood in their bodies. During a donation, a pint of blood is donated. That liter of blood.