What could you do in 10 minutes? Scroll through TikTok? Watch a new YouTube video? Take a shower? It probably takes you more than 10 minutes to do all of these things.
Well in 10 minutes you could save a life!
Over 15,000 people of Afro-Caribbean descent in the UK depend on those 10 minutes to live. In 10 minutes, you could donate blood and transform their lives! Sickle cell is a blood disorder commonly found within the black community. Individuals living with sickle cell have abnormally shaped red cells - their abnormal shapes causes them to clot easily. This can lead to multiple hospital admissions due to episodes called 'crisis'. Individuals with sickle cell require multiple blood transfusions a year.
People from the same ethnic background are more likely to be a donor match, so those of African decent are incredibly important in saving lives. However, there are unfortunately fewer than 5% of donors who are of BAME background.
This is why we are here to help! By taking 10 minutes out of your day, every 12 weeks, and becoming a regular blood donor, you can save up to 13 lives a year!
At ACSGiveBlood, we aim to create a community of students who regularly donate blood, and save lives. You can contact your universities AGB representative to find out when your university will be donating. And you'll receive reminders as to when your donating date will occur! You'll never have to give blood alone, and you'll be part of an amazing community saving lives.
To find out more about sickle cell disease and blood transfusions, visit the reference links below:
Written By Aizenosa Imafidon
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