Mississippi takes a lot of deserved pride in being the most generous state in the country when it comes to giving money to charitable causes.
What this state, though, is not very generous with is its blood.
Dawn Raybon Woods of Mississippi Blood Services says that last year only about 5 percent of the state’s residents who are old enough to give blood actually did.
Although some of these non-donors have a good excuse, most don’t. They either don’t like needles, claim they’re too busy, or mistakenly believe that giving up one of the nine to 12 pints of blood in their body will harm their own health.
As a result of this stinginess, the supply of blood frequently runs critically short of demand. Last year, Woods said, 86,000 Mississippians needed blood, but only 71,000 of their fellow residents donated.
One pint of blood, according to Woods, can save three lives. That’s a big return for such a small sacrifice.
