With the spirit of goodwill in the air as the holiday season grows nearer, it’s important to remember that taking care of one another shouldn’t be just a once-a-year kind of thing. Part of that commitment involves doing whatever we can to improve the health of those around us – like vaccinating ourselves, our children and our pets (see story here), or donating blood to help those who may need it (see story here). For those of us fortunate enough to not be immuno-compromised or require regular blood transfusions, it might not seem like these small things make a significant impact, but herd immunity and blood donations can be the difference between life and death for many others. A vaccination helps build resistance to the spread of contagious diseases like rabies or measles, which is invaluable to those who are vulnerable to infection – but it only works if between 85 to 95 per cent of the population receives the immunization. And blood donations are used in a wide variety of life-saving treatments – according to the American Red Cross, just one donation can save up to three lives. Currently, Red Cross estimates only around 10 per cent of eligible people donate blood yearly, which means supply can’t always meet demand. It’s easy to focus on ourselves – and maybe even easier this time of year, when the pressures that come with the holidays can seem overwhelming – but it’s important to recognize the opportunities we have to make things a little bit less stressful for someone else.
