The start of the new year heralds the American Red Cross’s annual effort to raise awareness of the critical need for blood and blood products through the winter months. Blood donations typically go down during this period, due to illness of potential donors, cancellations of blood drives due to inclement weather, and other reasons. It is estimated that 38% of the US population is eligible to donate blood, but less than 10% of that eligible population donates, according to the Red Cross. National Blood Donor Awareness month aims to remind the public that the need for blood is real, and to motivate first-time and previous donors to give blood or support blood donation efforts in other ways.

Over 20 million blood products are transfused in the US annually; 40% of these products come from volunteer donors to the American Red Cross. Every 2 seconds, someone in the US needs blood, and an average transfusion requires 3 pints of blood. A victim of a car accident may need as many as 100 pints of blood! A typical blood donation takes about a pint of blood out of the approximately 10 pints in the average adult body–plenty for a healthy adult to spare. Each donation can help multiple people, as components of whole blood can be separated out for different uses. Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues in the body, and are used in trauma, surgery, and in the treatment of severe blood loss. Platelets are cell fragments that help with clotting–these are used in surgeries and cancer treatments. Plasma is a clear liquid that contains proteins and clotting factors; it is commonly used in burn patients and bleeding disorders. Although donors of all blood types are needed, certain blood types are usually in shorter supply because their blood products can be used for patients of any blood type (critical in emergency situations, when a patient may need blood before his/her blood type is known); these are Type O negative, the “universal donor” for red blood cells, and type AB positive, the “universal donor” for plasma. Only 7% and 3% of the US population, respectively, has these blood types.

Giving blood is safe for most healthy adults, and a single donor can give blood multiple times annually. General eligibility requirements are that donors must be at least 17 years of age, and weigh at least 100 pounds. Additional eligibility/exclusion criteria can be found on the American Red Cross website. To donate blood, you can download the ARC blood donor app, visit www.redcrossblood.org, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767). If you do not meet current eligibility criteria, you can still support blood donation efforts by spreading the word about Blood Donor Awareness month, by donating to the Red Cross, or by hosting a blood drive through your workplace or community group (such community efforts provide about 80% of Red Cross blood donations!). Giving blood is giving the gift of life to someone in need–please consider donating this winter.