JANUARY IS BLOOD DONOR MONTH

Donors Encouraged to ‘Warm Your Heart, Heat Your Home’

Danville, PA – Since 1970, January has been recognized by presidential decree as National Volunteer Blood Donor Month. To help ensure an adequate blood supply, the Danville Chapter of the American Red Cross and the American Red Cross Blood Services, Northeastern Pennsylvania Region is proud to take the opportunity to thank those dedicated individuals who donate blood throughout Pennsylvania.

In northeastern Pennsylvania, blood inventories are of great concern, particularly in the winter months when winter storms, icy roads and illness can have a detrimental effect on community blood supplies, which is already just days ahead of demand. January is an excellent time to publicly thank those Silent Heroes who help save lives every day and issue a call to action for those who have never given blood or have not donated recently.

Eligible volunteer blood donors are asked to please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to find a blood drive and to make appointments. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in PA), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to give blood. Positive identification is required at the time of donation.

Throughout the month of January, the American Red Cross Blood Services, Northeastern Pennsylvania Region is encouraging people to give ‘Warm Your Heart, Heat Your Home’ and donate blood or platelets. Each week, daily presenting donors can enter to win a $200 Visa gift card to be used towards their winter home heating bills.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. The Red Cross Blood Services Northeastern Pennsylvania Region provides lifesaving blood to 29 hospitals and must have 351 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand. Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.

Serving Montour County, Rush Township, and Riverside, in fiscal year 2010, the Danville Chapter held 95 blood drives bringing in 2,403 units of blood. The Chapter's goals are to exceed that number in 2011. Donors can give every 56 days. Currently there is a critical need for O Negative units, however, all blood types are encouraged to give whenever they can.

Deanna Hollenbach, Executive Director of the Danville Chapter said, "Blood donors are some of the most valuable volunteers. They give of themselves literally and their one unit can save up to three lives. I can't think of any way that is better to give back to the community than to become a regular blood donor."

Please see the News & Events page for the upcoming drives in January and February.