January is National Blood Donor Month

Press release from the American Red Cross:

January is National Blood Donor Month
Public encouraged to honor blood donors by rolling up their sleeves

(January 6, 2011) – Most every month has a holiday or special day of remembrance. But not every month honors the millions of people who volunteer to give the gift of life each year.

“January is an absolutely perfect time of year to honor blood donors and all they do to help save lives” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “As the start of the New Year, January symbolizes hope—just like the act of donating blood.”

Since 1970, blood collection organizations like the American Red Cross have designated January as National Blood Donor Month. Each year, about 9.5 million volunteers donate around 16 million units of whole blood and red blood cells. About 20 percent of these donors give blood for the first time.

“Blood donors play a vital role in modern health care,” said Whitman. “Hospitals need blood daily for the treatment of serious diseases and conditions, for emergency care, and for lifesaving surgeries.”

Every day, about 39,000 pints of blood are transfused in the United States. And while that need is constant, blood donations often slump during the winter because of cold and snowy weather—making it even more important for donors to give blood if they can.

“Whether you choose to give blood once, twice or even more this coming year, we find it a privilege to serve you through the American Red Cross,” said Whitman. “Blood donors are truly remarkable people whose only reward is typically the satisfaction of knowing they’ve helped save someone’s life.”

Come to donate from Jan. 1 – 31 and be entered into a weekly region-wide drawing for a $250 Visa gift card! In addition, all donors will receive a coupon for a free donut from Dunkin’ Donuts (while supplies last).

 

UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:

• Sunday, Jan. 16, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church, located at 6813 W. California Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 484-7873 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Monday, Jan. 17, from 8:15 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at Logikos, located at 2914 Independence Drive in Fort Wayne.
• Tuesday, Jan. 18, from noon until 4 p.m. at Tomkinson BMW, located at 929 Avenue of Autos in Fort Wayne. Please call 436-9000 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Wednesday, Jan. 19, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Resurrection Lutheran Church, located at 14318 Lima Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 637-3724 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Saturday, Jan. 22, from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul in the gymnasium, located at 1720 E. Wallen Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 484-0078 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Sunday, Jan. 23, from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at St. Joseph United Methodist Church, located at 6004 Reed Road in Fort Wayne. Please call 485-9681, ext. 15 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Monday, Jan. 24, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the City County Building in the Omni Room, located at 1 E. Main St. in Fort Wayne. Please call 449-7671 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Parkview Hospital in the Pach Room, located at 2200 Randallia Dr. in Fort Wayne. Please call 373-3902 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Saturday, Jan. 29, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Blackhawk Ministries in the North Campus Gymnasium, located at 7400 E. State Blvd. in Fort Wayne. Please call 493-7400, ext. 222 to schedule your blood donation appointment.

Fort Wayne Donor Center located at 1212 E. California Road in Fort Wayne, (across from the Memorial Coliseum)

Traditional whole blood or double red cell donation:

• Monday and Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Wednesday and Thursday: noon – 6 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Platelet pheresis donation (call 1-800-589-8127 or 260-480-8299 to schedule a platelet donation):

• Monday: 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Tuesday: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Saturday: 6:30 a.m. – noon
• Sunday: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Lutheran Hospital Donor Center located at 7900 W. Jefferson Blvd., Suite 107 in Fort Wayne (in the South Lobby of Lutheran Hospital) Traditional whole blood or platelet pheresis donation (no platelet pheresis on Wednesdays):

• Monday through Wednesday: noon – 6 p.m.
• Thursday through Saturday: 6 a.m. – noon

 

How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.

About the American Red Cross
The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region serves northern and central Indiana and northwestern Ohio, and needs to collect about 500 units of blood a day to meet patient need in more than 60 hospitals. In addition to providing blood to our community, the American Red Cross also provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.

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