Blood donors are always needed but January is a very difficult month to keep up with the blood supply needed. So January has been named National Blood Donor Month. With the holidays, the cold weather and sometimes dangerous conditions, and an increase in illnesses like the flu, colds, pneumonia, etc. December through January blood donations are down.

This is not only a local problem but a national one too. If you donate blood regularly try to do so more often this month. If you donate once in a while, make this month your “while”. If you’ve never donated before, contact your local Blood Bank to see if you qualify and then go ahead and start donating!

From the American Association of Blood Banks:

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 goal is 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.

Please use this search to locate a Blood Bank near you.