During the winter season, many people willingly donate money, canned food or old clothes to charities. An often overlooked yet incredibly crucial form of donation is that of blood. January marks National Blood Donor Month, a time period to honor and promote the act of blood donations and all they do to keep patients alive all over the world.
Sixty two percent of the United States population is eligible to donate blood, yet only 3% do. The need for blood is constant – about every three seconds someone around the world requires blood – and there are often blood shortages that raise risks for those in dire need of it.
The New York Blood Center (NYBC), founded in 1964, is a non-profit organization that has one of the largest community-based blood centers on the globe. They work to provide blood to hospitals and medical centers from blood drives. Based out of New York, the NYBC serves 13 states, including New Jersey. Blood drives are held multiple times each month at locations like the YMCA, fire departments, schools and libraries.
“We work to ensure that blood is there when anyone needs it,” NYBC Volunteers Activity Manager Sharon Zetts-DeToro said.
The work of a blood center includes more than just administering blood to hospitals and medical centers, as many steps are taken along the way to verify safety measures and ensure there is an overall smooth process for donors. Before blood is distributed to places in need, the donor must be tested for sufficient pulse, temperature, blood pressure, iron and hemoglobin levels as unhealthy blood can have adverse-effects and harm patients.
Just 10 minutes or less are needed to take blood, which extracts one pint (about 500mL). While it may seem like a lot, the human body has the incredible ability to quickly replace all cells and fluid that has been lost. If donating, be sure to eat and hydrate well before and after – and don’t forget to retrieve your free cookies following the procedure!
“People donate blood for many reasons,” Zetts-DeToro said. “Sometimes it is because one of their family members or friends has used blood and they want to give back or donate in their honor or memory. For many, giving blood just feels like the right thing to do for patients in need. Donating blood also has emotional and physical health benefits for the donor. Some people find that helping others by donating blood can reduce stress, improve emotional well-being, benefit physical health and provide a sense of belonging.”
When blood is donated, the donor isn’t paid, as they are doing this out of the kindness of their heart for the betterment of society. To give back to donors, some blood center organizations have rewards for those who consistently give blood, like a pint of ice cream for every certain number of pints of blood donated. This is to encourage blood donations and thank donors for their service.
One donation of blood can save up to three lives. If you or someone you know would like to contribute to this life-saving practice, you can find a blood drive near you at Donate – New York Blood Center.
If you are unable to donate blood because of health or religious reasons but still want to support this practice, signing up to be a volunteer at blood banks can be a great way to contribute. Blood bank volunteers or “ambassadors” are unpaid representatives that socialize with and provide refreshments to donors in the 15-20 minutes post-blood donation. This helps the donors replenish themselves and provides them with a positive outlook on their experience. You can sign up at Volunteer – New York Blood Center to become a NYBC volunteer.
“[Donating blood] is an uncomfortable thing, and it’s not for everybody, but it’s something that if you’re willing to do, it could turn into 10’s of 1,000’s of hours that person has on Earth with their loved ones,” NYBC Ambassador Deborah Hanna said.
National Blood Donor Month has been observed since Dec. 31, 1969 when former President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation for it to be nationally recognized. This month celebrates the voluntary donations of blood by citizens of the US and encourages more to support this cause.
