Yes, you do. It’s nearly certain that you or someone you love has needed or will need blood at some time in your lives. Every drop of that blood was/will be donated by some unknown Good Samaritan who made the decision to save a stranger’s life. That kind of generosity of spirit can only truly be repaid in kind. No other currency is valuable enough.

Yeah, this isn’t the usual pitch for blood donations. All the talking points of that pitch are still true, of course. A single pint of blood, processed down to it’s constituent parts, can conceivably save three lives. America needs 38,000 units of blood each and every day, and every drop has to come from donors. Blood and blood products have a limited shelf life, so the supply must be constantly replenished.

All that is true, but the straight altruism angle doesn’t seem to motivate Americans very well. A measly 3 out of 100 eligible people in this country donate blood. That’s pathetic. The reasons they give are even worse.

“I don’t have time.” The whole process usually takes less than an hour. That means in the time it takes to get your hair cut or have a leisurely lunch, you can save three people’s lives. Which of these activities seem more important to you? Call ahead and schedule your donation, just like a hair cut. You’re in and out just like that and get on with your day. Unlike the salon, you even get free juice and snacks.

“I’m afraid of needles.” All right-thinking people are at least a little afraid of needles. Being afraid to let some stranger plunge a metal tube into your arm and suck out your blood means your brain is functioning properly. I’ve given blood many times and I still detest the stick of the needle. However, the pain is only momentary, and really isn’t that big a deal. The anticipation is by far the worst part of the process. The bit with the actual needle usually lasts ten minutes at the most and then it’s on to the canteen to have a snack and bask in your new sense of accomplishment. You’ve earned it, because you’ve just saved lives.

So there’s my pitch. Everybody SHOULD donate blood out of simple generosity of spirit and love of one’s fellow man. But if that’s not enough for you, think of it as a debt of honor. Somebody cared enough to help you or your loved one when help was needed, so now it’s your turn. Trust me when I say that once you screw up your courage and go through the process the first time, you’ll be back.

For information about how and where to give blood in your area, call 1-800-GIVELIFE (448-3543) or visit givelife.org. Seriously, go do it now. You’ll be glad you did.

UPDATE: If you donate blood through October 31, 2009, Louis J. Porter Design will give you a free PDF of its upcoming RPG Obsidian Twilight. Get free swag and do the right thing at the same time. How can you beat that?

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