Getting People Involved
January - National Blood Donor Month
Blood is traditionally in short supply during the winter months due to the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness. January, in particular, is a difficult month for blood centers to collect blood donations. A reduction in turnout can put our nation’s blood inventory at a critical low.
January has been designated as National Blood Donor Month (NBDM) to encourage donors to give or pledge to give blood.
Every day in our country, approximately 39,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident victims. Our members’ goals are to help ensure that blood is available to patients whenever and wherever it is needed because it is the blood on the shelves that helps saves lives.
If you are at least 17 years of age (some states permit younger people to donate with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and meet other donor requirements, you may be eligible to donate blood.
Gear Up for Saturn National Donor Day
Saturn National Donor Day (SNDD) is fast approaching. Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of bone marrow and blood donor recruiters, Saturn holds the largest annual lifesaving donation drive in America.
Since Donor Day’s inception in 1998, community blood centers and Saturn retailers have held more than 1,900 community drives, collected over 226,000 units of blood, added nearly 12,000 potential donors to the bone marrow registry—24 of whom have given a lifesaving marrow donation to date—and spread the word to millions of people about the need for organ donors.
Over the past 11 years, many blood centers have benefited in from a Saturn partnership. For example, the Oklahoma Blood Institute holds a multi-month long event that collects thousands of units each year. Blood Bank of the Redwoods in Santa Rosa, CA collects hundreds of units in a single day drive. Rock River Valley Blood Center in Rockford, IL has held its most productive drive ever in conjunction with Saturn National Donor Day. Some locations have promoted events with car washes, barbeques, Valentine’s Day gifts and even brand new Saturn giveaways.
In addition to the number of pints collected throughout this event, blood centers also benefit from the publicity generated by this unique national program.
February 14 is the official National Donor Day; however, it is up to each individual participant how and when Donor Day Events take place. If you are interested in participating this year, the following documents are provided for you to download:
Donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection. Platelets within 5 days. Plasma can be frozen for up to 1 year.
Individuals with serious injuries from a major automobile accident can require 50 units (pints) of blood or more. Seriously burned patients can require 20 units or more.
The components of one pint of donated blood can help the lives of three people.