In the time it takes you to read this sentence, someone in America will need blood. Whether it’s a car accident victim or a cancer patient who needs transfusions throughout his treatment, there is a very strong need for blood across the country.
Because of this need, our superheroes decided to take action. Our non-profit foundation, Mpact, will be a Community Partner at the Oakland A’s Blood Drive on August 26, 2018.
(Not in the Bay Area? Join our team of real-life superheroes by pledging your support to the online blood drive we’re hosting with the Red Cross, Sleeves Up.)
No matter when and where you donate, you’re giving someone the gift of life. That alone is an incredible benefit. However, there are some other good things that happen when you donate blood:
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It makes your heart happy
Knowing that your donation is saving lives will likely make your heart flutter with excitement, but your heart has another reason to feel good. When you donate blood, it makes your blood a little bit thinner. Studies have shown that people with thicker blood have a higher risk for heart disease. Thick blood isn’t as serious a threat as high cholesterol, but it has been linked to heart attacks and strokes.
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It can reduce excess iron
Even though most of them don’t know it, more than a million Americans have Hemochromatosis, a condition that causes their bodies to generate and store excess iron. If enough iron builds up, it can lead to joint damage, make you more susceptible to a variety of diseases (including cancer), and can even cause organ failure.
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You’ll get a mini health checkup
Before you sit down in the donor chair, the staff will make sure you’re able to give blood by checking your blood pressure and other vitals. After your blood is collected, it will be tested for a variety of diseases. If any of those tests come back positive, you’ll be notified. Don’t worry, though – everything is completely confidential!
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It burns calories
According to the University of California, San Diego, you’ll burn roughly 650 calories after donating blood because your body has to work to replenish it. Just don’t think of your donation as a diet plan! Instead, focus on all of the other good things that happen when you donate.
You can experience all of these benefits by joining Mpact’s team of superheroes on August 26, 2018, when we’re a Community Partner at the Oakland A’s Blood Drive. Put the “super” in “superhero” by donating at the Alameda Elks Lodge anytime from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm PDT.
