January is National Blood Donor Month, and the American Red Cross has recently announced an emergency shortage of blood and platelets, urging Americans to contribute by donating blood to alleviate the shortage and ensure lifesaving medical procedures proceed without delay. The organization reported a 40% decrease in blood donations to the Red Cross in the past 20 years, which can have significant consequences for those in need. During the National Blood Donor Month this January, the Red Cross has partnered with the National Football League to encourage blood donations by offering donors a chance to win a trip for two to the Super Bowl.
The American Red Cross released a statement, “One of the most distressing situations for a doctor is to have a hospital full of patients and an empty refrigerator without any blood products,” said Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical office of the Red Cross, the nation’s largest blood supplier. “A person needs lifesaving blood every two seconds in our country — and its availability can be the difference between life and death, however, blood is only available thanks to the generosity of those who roll up a sleeve to donate.”
Click here to learn more about donating blood.
