- This post is by Chad Queen, the Louisville-area Platelet Apheresis Donor Recruiter for the Red Cross in the River Valley Region

I know how crazy, a fast-paced society we all live in. Slowing down isn’t really an option, it’s more of a not speeding up so much that we just fall apart.

For a long time, I was like many of you, going Mach 4.5 with my hair on fire. Well, now that I’ve really tried to slow my life down (well as much as possible) only clocking Mach 3.9 with my hair slightly singed, my life and times have been somewhat more manageable.

Granted, admitting I have ADD, Mach 3.9 might be as slow as I’ll ever go because if you’re like me, you get antsy staying still.

Having said that, the time involved with donating blood and/or platelets is one reason I hear people don’t give more often.

Well, I want to use this topic to have people tell why they do give, or what’s kept them from giving.

The need is not going down and as many blood and platelet donors get older, who is going to replace that dedicated group? And better yet, if you don’t step up or continue to give, who will?

Filed under: Blood, Introduction