Jaliscienses, it seems, are especially jealous guardians of that salty, oxygen-delivering liquid without which we would quickly cease to exist: blood.
More and more, organizations looking for the life-saving elixir are taking their activities on the road in an effort to stimulate donations.
Nariz Roja, an organization dedicated to fighting child cancer, has begun a weekly mobile blood drive with the goal of providing the Hospital Civil Nuevo with at least 150 units of blood a week, creating a reserve the contents of which will be dedicated primarily to blood transfusions for children with cancer.
According to Becerra Leyva, director of the Center for Blood Transfusion (CETS) in Guadalajara, Jalisco is well below the national average in amount of blood donated — this in a country that already places last among Latin American nations in this area. Last year, CETS registered a large drop in donations of blood, from 135, 901 units in 2015 to 128, 957 in 2016.
For those who may think their potential donation amounts to nary a drop in the bucket, know that one unit of blood has the capacity to help three people; upon arrival, the donation is separated into red globules, plasma, and platelets, each component ameliorating a different medical issue. With very little effort you can make a difference in many peoples’ lives — and receive a free lollipop.
Recently, Nariz Rojo was drawing blood at the Centro de Rehabilitacion Infantil Teletón in the southwest of Guadalajara; in late June, collections took place at the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac, a private Catholic college just south of Zapopan.
“All these units of blood are prioritized for children who have the most difficulty finding donations,” said Alejandro Barbosa Padilla, director and founder of Nariz Roja.
Eligible age for donation with Nariz Roja is 18-65. Furthermore, you need to be at least 1.50 meters high, weigh no more than 50 kilos, be free of any infections, not have any cavities, and be medication-free for at least 15 days. Donors can give blood once every four months and platelets every 72 hours.
For more information, go to narizroja.org.