What would happen if the 3% of Americans who statistically DO donate blood came together to inspire others to?

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, September 18, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- That is the question Scottsdale teen Pierce Liestenfeltz has been asking since launching his effort to raise awareness of the importance of blood donation, through his One Arm at a Time Challenge. The teen’s call-to-action is two parts: if you have donated blood previously, now is a great time to do it again, as all blood types are needed. The second part is to inspire teens his own age to give it a try for their first time. In all states but five (Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Wyoming), you become eligible to donate blood at age 16, with parental consent.

The need for blood is constant. Traumatic injuries, cancer treatments, surgical procedures and chronic illnesses all utilize donated blood for patient survival. As older adult donors responsible for a large percentage of these critical donations are aging, younger adults are not signing up to become blood donors at a reliable replacement pace. The One Arm at a Time Challenge is about educating both teens and adults to reverse this trend now, by making plans and inspiring others to donate before the end of this year, 2022.

Not long after his 16th birthday, which happens to be June 14th, World Blood Donor Day, Liestenfeltz and his mom DeeDee wondered aloud if he was eligible to donate blood, as she was making plans to. Liestenfeltz first donated with parental consent this past March, finding it not difficult and actually very rewarding to physically give a part of himself to another human being. As Liestenfeltz discussed blood donation with other teens, it became clear that high school kids are graduating around the pandemic years without ever being asked to donate blood. This will create a negative ripple effect for years to come in our nation’s blood supply.

“There are so many milestones in a young adult’s life, and I think donating blood should be one of them,” said Liestenfeltz.

Liestenfeltz has chosen the American Red Cross as a partner organization for his challenge, given their excellent support and vast safe network of nationwide donor sites that are easily accessible to millions of Americans. Yet, as large event venues are filled again, there are still many open seats at local blood drives daily.

Liestenfeltz donated blood for the second time in May. During his first hosted American Red Cross “Back to School Blood Drive” in August, he donated his blood for the third time, at age 17. Liestenfeltz aims to become a lifetime blood donor, like the so many Americans in the generations before his have done.

Both teens and adults across the US can become part of the One Arm at a Time Challenge by learning more and registering for the challenge at https://onearmatatime.org/.

DeeDee Liestenfeltz
One Arm at a Time
+1 805-883-8462
email us here

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