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Give Blood and Save Lives

Happy New Year and Happy Blood Donation Month! Yes, it's true; January is the month we celebrate the lifesaving gift of blood and plasma donation. Did you know that one blood donation can save up to three lives? The statistics are staggering.

There are many important uses for donated blood, including lifesaving transfusions for patients with sickle cell anemia, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, patients who are receiving organ transplants, and patients who have suffered severe trauma.

If you think about it, blood donation is something of a miracle. Blood donors give a pint of blood each time, and that one donation is used to save lives within 42 days of when it was donated. Then, within approximately 24 hours, your body replaces the volume of blood you lost, and within weeks it replaces the red blood cells you contributed. Your body replenishes itself, and your heart is full, knowing that you've made a difference.

Typically, nearly 7 million people give blood each year. That sounds like a lot. However, it is only 3% of eligible donors. When too few people give blood, supply can drop, leaving some people in to go without the blood they desperately need. Today, the Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage. Amid fears of the COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak, donor turnout is dangerously low. Unlike many lifesaving treatments, human blood and platelets cannot be mass-produced, so hospitals depend on donations from community volunteers.

Blood donation is a simple and free way to contribute to the community in which you live. This month, as we celebrate Blood Donation Month, we hope you'll join the millions of people who are saving lives each year by donating blood locally. There's no more fantastic way to start the new year than with the spirit of generosity and the warm feeling that comes along with helping your neighbors. For more information about giving blood, search for blood donation locations in your area. We promise you this is one gift you'll never regret giving.

Adrienne Freeland is a freelance writer who specializes in helping business owners communicate more clearly. Using skills developed in her former career as a professional fundraiser, Adrienne collaborates with her clients to craft engaging, targeted content.