January 17, 2017
Blood: we take it for granted until we see it or, heaven forbid, lose it.
Millions — including cancer patients, organ recipients, and accident victims – count on blood being at the ready. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, according to the American Red Cross. Yet, only 10% of eligible individuals give blood annually. The good news is that the main reason people don’t give blood is they simply “never thought about it.”
Those who do give blood want to help others. They are particularly philanthropic, a trait they share with the types of patients we and our research customers count on, who happily contribute their de-identified biospecimens to help advance research.
Learn More About Human Biospecimens
January is National Blood Donor Month, declared by President Richard Nixon in 1970, to pay tribute to voluntary blood donors and increase donation by others. The acute need for blood was reflected earlier this month in the Red Cross’s emergency call for donations.
In an effort to do our part in thanking philanthropic blood donors and to raise awareness for more donations, we share these Red Cross facts on why donating blood is so important and effective.
To find out more about donating blood, about the American Red Cross, or to find a donation center or blood drive, please visit www.redcross.org. Better yet, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App and find nearby Red Cross blood drives, schedule appointments, earn rewards, follow your blood as it makes it way to the hospital, join a lifesaving team, and track the team’s impact on a national leaderboard.