5 key reasons to donate blood

Donating blood is often referred to as giving the gift of life—and for good reason. Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood, according to the American Red Cross. And just one unit of donated blood can save up to three lives.

Yet every year, less than 3 percent of people eligible to donate blood do so. There are many reasons a person might not donate, among them a fear of needles, a busy schedule, or perhaps they don’t realize how badly blood is needed. The need is partly because donations have a limited period within which they can be used, meaning there is a constant demand for more.

With that in mind, here are some excellent reasons you should consider donating blood today.