I have worked as a critical care nurse for over 6 years, often my patients have traumatic injuries, long-term illnesses and acute conditions requiring blood transfusions. You might not realize how important certain letters are until they’re gone. A, B and O are the main blood types and when not enough people donate blood, A’s, B’s and O’s may be missing from hospital shelves when a critical patient arrives.

The past four years, new Red Cross blood donors have declined by about 80,000 each year. In many of the facilities I have worked at, there have been blood shortages and this is extremely dangerous.

I know, blood donation can be a bit nerve-wracking especially for a first-timer, but one blood donation can help save up to three lives. One simple blood donation can potentially mean a lot to patients!

Recently blood donation took on a whole new meaning for me when having to rapidly transfuse blood and blood products to a teenage patient involved in a trauma. My patient suffered massive blood loss and with the help of blood transfusions, he was ultimately stabilized and able to leave the hospital and continue on his life. The patient came back to visit the hospital after his discharge to thank us for saving his life.

Without volunteer blood donors, our story might have had a different ending. Help me reach my goal and ensure that patients receive the lifesaving blood they need. Make and keep an appointment to give blood to the American Red Cross.

Help me to accomplish something very close to my heart. The Red Cross has to collect 15,000 blood donations every day to have enough blood to help patients in 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. That’s a lot of patients in need and all of us, coming together, can help ensure patients receive life-saving blood they require.

I’m asking for my friends to make an appointment and give blood to the American Red Cross through a Virtual Blood Drive. It’s easy to find an appointment that’s near to you and every donation can help save up to three lives. The impact we can make together is the best gift I can imagine.

SleevesUp is so awesome because, the first-of-its-kind website that lets Red Cross supporters to create a virtual blood drive and encourage colleagues, friends and family members to give blood or platelets.

Many people say they haven’t donated blood because no one has ever asked, I AM ASKING !! Become a blood donor and support the cause of blood donation.

So Sleeves Up and help me reach my goal. Make and keep an appointment to give blood to the American Red Cross.