Wonderful World Wednesday
White Dog believes that many people have no idea the impact their actions have on other people. Like a stone tossed into a pond the ripples it causes spread outward to unimagined places and unknown people. It is part of what makes positive action such a powerful tool in shaping a wonderful world. If each person did just one small thing, The Other White Dog explained, they could change a life, improve a situation, make a real difference.
Nuka found this perfect example the other day on the Good News Network:
Gratitude for a modest hero Jodie Stephens July 18, 2011
Alan McMillan was shocked when he learned he had saved as many as 900 lives.The Buderim man has never worked as a trauma surgeon, a fireman or a life guard – he has simply given an hour of his time every second Tuesday to give blood. But with every fortnightly donation to the Red Cross, Mr McMillan has saved as many as three lives.
As part of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service’s National Blood Donor Week celebrations earlier in the week, he was honored for making more than 300 donations since 1977.
Mr McMillan said it was “enlightening” to hear guests describe how blood donors had saved their lives. “I didn’t realize I was potentially helping so many people,” he said.
Mr McMillan said he never planned to reach 300 donations but blood donation was just a part of his regular routine. “I don’t really remember why I first did it, but I knew people used blood and it was just an opportunity to help. Now I attend the blood bank every fortnight. They know at work that on Tuesday afternoons I’m not available.”
Mr McMillan said he hoped his achievement would encourage others to give blood.
“It’s something that doesn’t cost you anything except an hour of your time, but it’s got such wide-reaching benefits.”
SOME STATS ON BLOOD DONATIONS
- One in three people will need blood, but only one in 30 people currently give blood. In the USA the number is 1 in 7 entering the hospital need blood. Every day more than 38,000 blood donations are needed.
- There are several kinds of blood donation: whole blood donations, plasma donations and platelet donations.
- If only one more % of Americans start donating blood then blood scarcity would disappear soon. If all blood donors donate blood three times in a year, then blood shortages would be a rare event.
- Plasma and platelet donations can be made every two weeks, while whole blood donations can be made every 12 weeks.
- Plasma donations are used to make 17 different products and contain very important proteins, nutrients and clotting factors.
900 lives saved by an hour spent every two weeks by one man. Imagine the impact, White Dog challenges, if 10 people gave 26 hours a year? Or 100? Or 100,000? Imagine…
For another story that illustrates taking an active role in creating a Wonderful World, please check out Scout and Freyja's current post about shelters for pups living with domestic violence. The awareness of the need for safe havens and its availability for pets in these situations can save lives, both human and canine.