January is National Blood Donor Month

Blood is usually in short supply during the winter months due to the holidays, travel schedules, bad weather and illness. January, in particular, is a difficult month for blood centers to collect donations. Poor turnouts can put our nation’s blood supply at a critical low. The AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks), along with America’s Blood Centers, is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the importance of voluntary blood donation. Every day in the United State, blood is needed in hospitals to care for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident and trauma victims. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.


Facts About Blood: 

• More than 38,000 blood donations are needed each day.
• Blood can be separated into at least three components: red blood cells, plasma, and platelets.
• Just one blood donation can help save up to three lives.
• 60% of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, but only 5 % actually donate.
• Blood and blood products are perishable. Donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection

A blood donation truly is a “gift of life” that a healthy individual can give to others who are sick or injured.

Continue your holiday giving and donate now!

To learn more about blood donation visit www.aabb.org. To find areas in your community where you can donate blood, visit https://www.membersforlife.org/pennj/schedule/bdc_zip.php to search by zip code.