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By Cara Beth Lewis

Blood donations are crucial – they save lives! In the month of January, Blood Donor Month is observed nationally. President Richard Nixon proclaimed January as National Blood Donor Month for the first time on December 31, 1969, as requested by Senate Joint Resolution 154, and we are still observing the important act of blood donation today.

Check out some interesting facts about blood donations below:

(from givingblood.org)

4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion each year.
Someone needs blood every two seconds.
Only 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood – less than 10 percent do annually.
One pint of blood can save up to three lives.
One unit of blood can be separated into several components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate.
Much of today’s medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors.
Children being treated for cancer, premature infants, and children having heart surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types, especially type O.
Thirteen tests (11 for infectious diseases) are performed on each unit of donated blood.
46.5 gallons: the amount of blood you could donate if you begin at age 17 and donate every 56 days until you reach 79 years old.
If all blood donors gave three times a year, blood shortages would be a rare event. (The current average is about two.).

Now you may wonder, ‘Am I eligible to give blood?’ Good question. To ensure the safety of both the donor and the recipient, all potential donors are evaluated prior to donating.

To give blood, you must…

Be in generally good health.
Be at least 17 years old. (If you are 16 you can donate with a CBC consent form signed by your parent). There is no upper age limit as long as you have no health restrictions.
Be at least 5′ 4″ tall and weigh at least 110 pounds. If you are under 5′ 4″ you will need to weigh more than 110 pounds to safely donate.
Have a photo ID. (It’s helpful to also have your CBC Donor ID card).

For more information about who can and cannot donate, read more here: who-can-donate.aspx.

Getting a good night’s sleep, eating a nutritional meal, and drinking plenty of fluids are highly recommended prior to donating blood.

According to capefearvalley.com, “The Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center is a community blood program that serves the needs of patients in Cumberland, Hoke and Bladen Counties through blood donation by individual donors, community organizations and businesses.” Through CFV Blood Donor Center, there are opportunities here in Bladen County to donate.

On January 13th, there will be a blood drive at West Bladen High School from 8:30 am until 3 pm. On January 25th, Bladen Community College will host a blood drive from 10 am until 2 pm. Lastly, on February 25th Lu Mil Vineyard will have a blood drive from 2 pm until 5 pm.

The Blood Donor Center has several options available for the community: Blood Assurance Plan, Autologous Program, Apheresis Platelet Program, Blood Conservation Program, Double Red Cell Program, and Whole Blood Donation Recognition Program. For more information regarding the programs offered by CFV, click here: Blood Donor Center Programs.

With questions regarding how to donate, where to donate, how to host a blood drive, and more, contact Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center at (910)615-5433.

In honor of National Blood Donor Month, “Give and Save Lives.”