Special Events: January is National Blood Donor Month
January 2nd, 2012
At a time when donations are typically low, blood centers across the country recognize January as National Blood Donor Month.
According to America’s Blood Centers, 4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion each year. Only 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, but less than 10% do annually.
Blood Assurance is encouraging area residents to roll up their sleeves in January to ensure that local patients get the life-saving blood transfusions they need. As the only blood provider to more than 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities, Blood Assurance needs an average of 400 blood donations every day to meet the local demands.
Weather and seasonal illnesses can contribute to a decrease in blood donations during the winter months, according to Blood Assurance. While schools and businesses may close for inclement weather, Blood Assurance’s goal of collecting 400 daily donations never changes.
“We’re similar to any other healthcare organization when it comes to inclement weather, “ said Linda Hisey, vice-president of marketing and public relations. “Even if the weather is severe enough to close our donation centers, our laboratory and shipping departments never close,” she said.
Hisey hopes that residents who start the year off by donating blood will continue to do so throughout the year in order to avoid shortages in the community’s blood supply. According to America’s Blood Centers, if all blood donors gave three times a year, blood shortages would be a rare event (The current average is about two.)
Posted by lacey wilson
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