NewsTaco

As NewsTaco has written about in the past, there are many reasons why it’s important that Latinos donate blood.  Even though Latinos are more likely to have O-blood type, which makes them more likely to be universal donors, they’ve had historically low-rates of blood donation.

In order to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and to honor the legacy of one of the nation’s great civil rights leaders, Migrant Students.org has teamed up with South Texas Blood and Tissue Center for the 2012 National Cesar E. Chavez Blood Drive Challenge.

Participating universities and colleges around south Texas will host blood drives with the aim of saving lives, and promoting health education, civic engagement.  Drives are set to take place on or around Chavez’s birthday, March 31.

Even if you live outside of Texas, you can still participate by looking up a participating center at a university or college near you, hosting a community blood drive, or by donating blood at your local Red Cross. According to the press release:

MigrantStudents.org sponsors the challenge cross-country with a goal of 25,000 registered donors this year and 250 colleges and universities. Last year, 167 schools participated bringing in over 15,000 people presenting to donate—about 5,000 Latinos.

If you haven’t donated blood in the past, now is a great time to start.  If you’re nervous about donating blood, check out a video of Editor Sara Ines Calderon on one of her trips to donate at the local blood bank.  It’s not as difficult, or uncomfortable as it seems and your donation could save someone’s life.

For more information on donating blood visit South Texas Blood and Tissue Center or the American Red Cross.

[Photo From MigrantStudents.org]

Latinos are more likely to be universal blood donors — that is have O- blood type — than other ethnic groups. This means that Latino blood donors have the chance to save more lives; O+ type donors are compatible with other blood types.

As Latinos grow as a population in this country, the need for Latino blood donors will only grow — not only because they’re the universal blood type, but also because there will be more Latinos in need, and tissue types are inherited. We spoke recently to Aleida Fuentes, who is the Community Relations Specialist with the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.

She spoke about the myths Latinos have believed about blood donation, the need for Latinos to donate to help both Latinos and non-Latinos in need, and ways that you can help. For more information, visit the website or watch the video.

Follow Sara Inés Calderón on Twitter @SaraChicaD

[Video By News Taco]