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January is National Blood Donor Month and allows people the opportunity to donate blood or make a pledge to donate blood at a different time in the year when blood donations are typically in short supply.
At this time of year, it is common for blood drives to be cancelled due to inclement weather, but they are also declined very often at the end-of-year holidays. These cancellations and declines typically leave blood centers and hospitals with a shortage at the beginning of the year.
Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal said, "While 60 percent of people in New Jersey are eligible to donate blood, only 3.6 percent of them do. ...Blood is needed 365 days a year - not just during disasters."
The American Red Cross says that someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion every two seconds due to illness, or to treat an injury or during surgery. Any donor who donates a single unit of blood can save up to three lives.
New Jersey blood centers encourage donors to explore a range of donation options and ask their nearest blood center when and what the greatest needs for donations are. For those who may be wondering, there is no artificial substitute for blood.
For information on the different types of blood donations, visit The Sparta Independent here or you can visit Red Cross Blood here to schedule a donation appointment.
Source: The Sparta Independent