CAF Recognizes National Blood Donor Month

Monday, January 10th, 2011 at 7:54 pm

January 9, 2010 – In recognition of National Blood Donor Month (January), the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation encourages all those eligible to give blood to do so during this month – and to continue doing so throughout the year.

An ample blood supply is important to the thalassemia community, whose members need blood as often as every two weeks. But maintaining a sufficient supply is important for everyone.

According to the New York Blood Center, someone needs blood every two seconds. Four million Americans would die each year without it, and the only place to get this precious resource is from volunteer blood donors. Every day in the U.S., approximately 39,000 units of blood are needed.

Fewer than 5 percent of healthy Americans eligible to donate blood actually donate each year. In New York, only 2% actually donate. Several donors aiming to change those statistics include:

• Alan Singer of Edison, NJ, has given blood regularly for 28 years, and recently introduced his daughter, Zahava, to the selfless act of giving blood by accompanying her to her very first blood donation. Alan often gives blood in Manhattan, near his place of work.
• Elliot Vanacour of Marlboro, NJ, a New York City transit employee and blood donor of 28 years, recently celebrated his 200th career blood donation at New York Blood Services’ One New York Plaza Donor Center.
• David Crews hit the 70 gallon donation mark with Florida-Georgia Blood Alliance on December 5th.
  

  David Crews (seated)

• Albert Fischer of Massapequa, NY, recently donated his 320th pint of whole blood, a total of 40 gallons. Albert often gives blood with the Golden Donors, a group of dedicated volunteer retirees.
• Members of the “Tree of Life” program in the Puget Sound area of Washington state, such as Lyle Maynard Lewis and Carole Beecher, have each given at least 200 units of blood in their lifetimes.
• The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center in Houston lists 21 members who have each donated at least 100 gallons of blood.

CAF salutes these and all the other dedicated individuals who make it a point to contribute to the nation’s blood supply.

Blood is traditionally in short supply during the winter months due to the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness. January, in particular, can be a difficult month for blood centers to collect blood donations, as approximately 15% of regional blood collection comes from high schools and colleges, many of which have winter recess this month.

People can donate a pint of blood every 56 days. An adult of average weight has about 10 to 12 units of blood, so one pint is easy to spare. You may get it back someday, as one out of three people will need a life-saving blood transfusion in his or her lifetime.

CAF thanks every individual blood donor and every organization that sponsors blood drives for their invaluable support.

: News