Save Lives - Give Blood

January is Blood Donor Awareness Month. This monthlong national campaign aims to raise awareness about the ongoing need for blood donations and to show appreciation for those who donate.

Hospitals and healthcare facilities constantly require a steady supply of blood to meet the diverse needs of patients. Blood can't be manufactured and has a limited shelf life, so a steady supply from donors is critical. Blood and platelet donors help save lives by providing a vital source of blood for those in need of transfusions, such as accident victims, surgeries, and patients with chronic illnesses.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to overlook the profound significance of donating blood. National Blood Donor Awareness Month provides us with an opportunity to pause and reflect on the life-saving potential inherent in every drop of blood given. Each donation has the power to make a difference for individuals facing medical emergencies, undergoing surgeries, and grappling with chronic illnesses.

With the start of the new year, communities across Maine and much of the Northeastern U.S. are once again experiencing a critical shortage of donated blood and platelets.There are several reasons why blood shortages often occur in January:

  • Winter weather can disrupt donation planned blood drive events and donor availability

  • Decreased donation turnout due to holiday gatherings and festivities.

  • More people are traveling and spending time indoors, which often leads to an increase in injuries and illnesses requiring blood transfusions.

The American Red Cross currently has an urgent need for blood and platelet donors across Maine. New and returning donors are critically needed as the blood donor base throughout the U.S. has continued to shrink. In less than one hour, an eligible individual can donate one unit of blood that can be separated into four individual components that could help save multiple lives.

To learn more about the eligibility requirements for giving blood, to find a blood drive event near you , or make an appointment to give blood, visit https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html.

You can also download the American Red Cross FREE Blood Donor app to your for iPhone or Android devices. Find nearby Red Cross blood drives, schedule and manage appointments, complete your RapidPass®, get notified when your blood is on its way to a patient, view results from your mini-physical, and more.

To learn more visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/blood-donor-app.html or Or text: "BLOODAPP" to 80880

POSTTracey Carlsonblood donors, donate blood, American Red Cross, blood platelets, HPM