To ring in the new year, party like it's 1970! Since that year, January has been recognized as National Blood Donor Month. Being a blood donor saves lives - definitely not a shabby New Year's resolution, not to mention the free post-donation doughnut and cookies.
For many years, I donated blood and then, for some reason which remains forgotten, I stopped. But two years ago, one of my dear friends was diagnosed with aplastic anemia and needed regular blood and platelet transfusions to relieve his symptoms.
Seeing him so ill prior to receiving transfusions, then recognizing the difference once he was done, rekindled my giving spirit. Soon, I was a regular at the local Red Cross.
The American Red Cross long has been known in the United States for its emergency response efforts.
Founded in 1881 by Clara Barton, it was in 1940 during World War II that our country turned to the Red Cross to develop a supply of lifesaving blood on a massive scale. After the war, the Red Cross introduced the first nationwide civilian blood program.
Today, it is the largest single supplier of blood and blood products in the United States, collecting and processing more than 40% of the blood supply and distributing it to some 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.
Here are some good-to-know facts about our nation's blood supply from the American Red Cross:
* The demand for blood transfusions is growing faster than donations.
* Less than 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood.
* Blood cannot be manufactured - it can only come from donors.
* Shortages of all blood types usually occur during the summer and the winter holidays.
Every day in the United States, approximately 39,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident victims.
Give an hour, get a cookie, save a life
The average adult has about 10 to 12 pints of blood in his body. Roughly one pint is given during a donation. Donors can give blood every 56 days, or six times a year. Just one donation can help save the lives of up to three people. Most donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection. Donated platelets must be used within five days of collection, so new donations are constantly needed.
Donating blood is safe. Actual donation time typically takes less than 10 to 12 minutes. The entire process - from registration and medical history/mini-physical to donation and refreshments - takes about an hour.
If you are not yet persuaded to donate blood, consider this: The Red Cross makes blood available to any patient who needs it. Patients are not required to find donors to replace the blood they use (a practice common in Europe and some U.S. blood banks).
This generous gift allows patients and their families to focus on the task at hand - recovering. So, if you or someone you love has ever been in urgent or immediate need of blood or blood products, it was available because of donations from strangers.
In fact, close to 80% of the blood donations given to the Red Cross are collected at mobile blood drives at community organizations, companies, high schools, colleges, places of worship or military installations. The remaining 20% are collected at Red Cross donor centers. If you haven't already, why not think about organizing a blood drive at your company this year?
Through my years as a nurse, I have witnessed many impressive and sometimes anonymous gifts of strength, compassion and generosity. Donating blood saves lives. If that's not a great way to start your New Year, nothing is.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.
Contributing Editor Betty Long is a registered nurse and founder of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates, a health care advocacy firm that has helped thousands of patients navigate the health care system and saved millions of dollars in health care costs.
