January is National Blood Donation Month

January is National Blood Donation Month

January has always been a month where people look to the new year with optimism; hoping the next year will be better than the last. One way we can start the new year off right is by celebrating National Blood Donor Month. During the winter season, there is typically an increase in illnesses due to the weather which causes a shortage in the donation of blood and platelets. This shortage causes an increase in the demand for blood. The American Red Cross and Blood Banks of America encourage everyone who can to donate. Donating blood is safe and can save the lives of millions of people in America.

National Blood Donor Month has been around since January 1970 but blood donation has been around a lot longer than that. The first ever successful blood transfusion was done in 1907 by an American Physician named Reuben Ottenberg by using blood typing and crossmatching at a hospital in New York. In 1938, an Hungarian physician established the first hospital blood bank in the United States located at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL. It was not until December 31, 1969 when President Richard Nixon proclaimed January to be National Blood Donor Month.

Why National Blood Donor Month is Important

Donating blood saves lives. Every few seconds there is someone in the United States who is in need of blood. More than 4.5 million Americans would die every year without lifesaving blood transfusions. By having National Blood Donor Month, we can be reminded of these vital statistics and possibly be able to help contribute to saving lives.

How you can observe National Blood Donor Month

1. Donate Blood- Donating blood only takes about an hour but can make the difference to the lives who need it.

2. Host a Blood Drive- Hosting a blood drive is a great way to increase your impact. Even if you are only able to encourage 10 people to donate, you could be saving up to 30 lives. Hosting a blood drive can be a great opportunity to get your neighborhood, office, or club involved in celebrating National Blood Donor Month. It can also be an opportunity to spend time with people you care about while giving back to your community and to those in need.

3. Spread the Word and Inspire- Even if you are not eligible to donate blood yourself, you can still help give back in other ways by inspiring others to donate blood.

Interesting Facts about Blood Donations