During the month of January, the American Red Cross celebrates National Blood Donor Month. Observed since 1970, the goal of National Blood Donor Month is to increase blood and platelet donations during winter, one of the most difficult times of year to collect blood products.
Blood that is donated can be used for women with pregnancy complications, before, during or after childbirth, children with severe anemia, and people who experience physical trauma following man-made and natural disasters, just to name a few.
How to Sign Up to Donate
By taking just an hour out of your day, rolling up your sleeve and donating blood, you can save a life. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. Blood donation appointments are quick and easy to make. They can be made by downloading the American Red Cross Blood Donor App on your mobile device, visiting Redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS to make an appointment or to receive more information.
Blood Donor Qualifications
Some of the donor qualifications include:
- A blood donor card, driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.
- Must be 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states).
- Weigh at least 110 pounds.
You can save time at your next donation by using RapidPass to complete pre-donation reading and the health history questionnaire online, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To read more about donating blood, check out our article Spread Holiday Cheer by Donating Blood. This season, we encourage you to roll up a sleeve and save a life.
Take the Benefit Finder questionnaire to find government benefit programs you may be eligible to receive.
