National Blood Donor Month

1/16/2019 (Permalink)

National Blood Donor Month is celebrated in the United States in January each year since 1970. January is a time that sees significantly less blood donations due to the holidays, people’s busy schedules, seasonal illness and inclement winter weather. This makes January one of the most difficult times to collect enough donations to meet needs. This is what led President Nixon to declare January as National Blood Donor Month on December 31, 1969.

The American Red Cross says that nearly 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood yet only around 10% actually donate. One pint of blood can save up tp three lives! Some other benefits include:

• Free blood tests – donated blood is tested and donor can asked to be informed if any irregularities are found.
• Satisfaction of saving human lives
• Calorie burn – Blood donation process burns 650 calories – about the same as an average spin class!
• Reduced risk of heart disease – helps eliminate excess buildup of iron in the blood
• Reduced risk of cancer – also due to reduction of excess iron buildup in the blood

To find out more on the blood donation process and where to give, visit either www.redcross.org or https://www.giveapint.org/

Content By: https://www.few.org/national-blood-donor-month/ & https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/Resolve-to-Give-during-National-Blood-Donor-Month.html