San Diego Blood Bank is celebrating National Blood Donor Month in January and asked potential donors to consider giving to help others, but also to receive a limited-edition prize.
Blood donors who donate at any San Diego Blood Bank donor center or mobile blood drive through Jan. 25 will receive a limited-edition “Yeti or Not, Make a Difference” long-sleeved T-shirt — while sizes and supplies last.
National Blood Donor Month has been celebrated since 1970 with the goal of increasing blood and platelet donations during winter — one of the most difficult times of year to collect enough blood products to meet patient needs, a blood bank statement read.
“Blood is unique in our healthcare system,” said Doug Morton, San Diego Blood Bank CEO. “There is no substitute, and it cannot be synthetically made so volunteer blood donations are the only way to provide blood to hospital patients in need.”
Someone needs blood every two seconds in the United States, and one in seven patients entering a hospital requires blood transfusions. This “ranges from trauma victims to patients battling sickle cell disease, anemia, or to ensure a successful organ or bone marrow transplant,” the statement read. Cancer patients use a quarter of all blood donations, and blood transfusions are needed in one out of every 83 newborn deliveries in America Friday.
One blood donation could save up to three lives.
To be eligible to donate blood you must be at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health. Appointments are encouraged and available by going to sandiegobloodbank.org or by calling 619-400-8251. Walk- ins are welcome.