People are making their New Year’s resolutions as the calendar flips from 2024 to 2025. The American Red Cross is hoping more people will donate blood in the coming year.
January is National Blood Donor Month. President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1969 that created the designation. The goal was to pay tribute to people who have donated blood in the past, and to encourage others to donate in the future.
Blood Donations in the Region
Locally, the Red Cross supplies blood products to about 60 hospitals in the Baltimore and Washington region. The nonprofit collects hundreds of units of blood every day to maintain the blood supply for patients in need.
During 2024, the Red Cross held more than 6,000 blood drives throughout the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake region. Workers collected around 140,000 units of blood.
“These numbers reflect a slight increase from last year,” said American Red Cross Communications Director for the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region, Bethany Patterson.
“A single donation is roughly one pint of blood. It can help save multiple lives. Most donations are spun in centrifuges to separate them into red cells, platelets, and plasma which can be given to multiple patients,” Patterson explained.
Who Should Donate?
Nationally, nearly 7 million people donate their blood each year. The Red Cross encourages healthy individuals to make an appointment to donate blood during the month of January. Patterson said the blood supply faces challenges this time of year because people are often traveling. Besides issues with traveling, seasonal illnesses and the winter weather also can cause potential donors to postpone giving.
Need for Blood
Patterson said currently the blood supply is stable. However, she urged people with type O negative blood and those giving platelets to donate now, so patients can continue to receive the care they need in the coming weeks.
The need for blood is constant. The Red Cross estimates every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a lifesaving blood transfusion. Donated blood helps accident and burn victims, people having surgery, new mothers, and premature babies. Blood donations also help patients fighting cancer, sickle cell disease, and other chronic illnesses.
“Donating blood is an easy way to give back and make a difference. It takes about an hour, start to finish, and a person is only on the donation chair for about 15 minutes. After that, a donor has some juice and cookies. Donors can then go on with their day knowing they have helped save lives,” Patterson said.
Upcoming Blood Drive
The Red Cross is holding a blood drive on January 10 from 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at 8797 Snouffer School Road in Montgomery Village. Paul Davis Restoration is sponsoring the event. People can make an appointment for this blood drive or any future events at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
