January – National Blood Donor Month is a time to recognize the importance of donating blood in saving lives and to celebrate the lifesaving impact of blood donors. According to the American Red Cross, every 2 seconds someone needs blood and about 1 in 7 people entering a hospital need blood. By donating blood, blood donors are helping patients survive surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, traumatic injuries, and so much more.
The need for blood is nonstop. But, unfortunately, the American Red Cross reported that only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly. That’s millions of people who don’t donate blood! And during the winter, blood donations usually drop off due to many factors such as the weather, holidays, etc., making winter an especially critical time to donate blood.
When more people donate blood, more lives can be saved. Encourage your family, friends, and community to donate blood!
Resources
- People who have received the COVID-19 vaccine can donate blood. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine and blood donor eligibility by clicking here.
- Find out where you can donate blood by visiting redcrossblood.org, calling 1-800-REDCROSS, or using the Red Cross Blood Donor app to find out where you can donate blood.
- Learn more about how to host a blood drive with the American Red Cross by clicking here.