Tag Archives: World Blood Donor Day

Recognizing blood donors on World Blood Donor Day

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Increased need for donors during summer months

By Eilene E. Guy, American Red Cross volunteer

Why in the world would anybody willingly roll up a sleeve and take a needle jab, to give up a bag of precious blood?

“My mother, she gave I don’t know how many gallons,” one donor recently told me. This middle-aged daughter was honoring her late mother’s example of generosity.

Eilene E. Guy, Red Cross volunteer and blood donor

“Back in 1970, a friend of mine was going to have surgery, so I went to Cleveland to donate for him,” another donor recalled. With his donation the day we talked, that man was approaching his 35-gallon mark!

On this, World Blood Donor Day, the American Red Cross salutes the estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. who donate blood. That yields about 13.6 million units (a “unit” of blood is about one pint) of whole blood and red blood cells a year.

That’s a whole lot of blood!

But consider: Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets. That amounts to some 29,000 units of red blood cells every day.

And this isn’t an option. Blood is saving the lives of critically injured emergency room patients, mothers and newborns experiencing complications of childbirth and folks having surgery. It’s sustaining hundreds of thousands of people undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer and tens of thousands who rely on blood transfusions to cope with the effects of sickle cell disease.

We’re fortunate to live in an age of modern medicine, but one challenge remains: There’s no way to “manufacture” blood.

So until that magic day, it’s a measure of our humanity that so many donors step forward to save the lives of others – in most cases, people they’ll never know.

The fact is, only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood every year. That often leaves the supply agonizingly short. Over the last month, for example, the Red Cross collected about 20,000 fewer units of blood than needed to maintain a safe and stable national blood supply.

That’s worrisome, because blood donations typically drop during the summer months. At the same time, the need doesn’t stop.

Which brings us back to the source, blood donors.

I know from personal experience that it takes about an hour to go through the whole process: Screening to be sure I’m healthy and don’t have any disqualifications (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration decides what that would be, such as exposure to communicable diseases like malaria, or recent tattoos or piercings.); donating; and recovery (Water, juice and snacks are encouraged to jump-start the body’s replacement of the blood removed.)

You don’t need to know your blood type to make a blood donation. And if you think you’ve been disqualified, give it another try: You, or the rules, may have changed.

You can schedule your blood donation by using the free Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 

On this World Blood Donor Day and every day, “bravo” to those who make the choice to save or sustain a life.

Edited by Glenda Bogar, Red Cross volunteer

Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer

Why am I a blood donor? Why not?

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A dedicated donor reflects on World Blood Donor Day

By Doug Bardwell, American Red Cross volunteer

As I was asked to write this article, I tried to remember back when I made my first donation, some 56 units and 26 years ago. At the time, I was working in Terminal Tower, and I decided to give when a co- worker said something as simple as, “Hey, I’m going over to donate blood. Want to come along?”

Doug Bardwell

I’m sure I asked about qualifications, but he assured me that they’d give me a quick physical check and make sure I was able to donate. That’s all it took, and I was on my way to becoming a blood donor. “Why not?”


The blood donor center was set up in an unoccupied office space in Tower City Center. I was actually amazed at how quick it was to make my donation. No drama, just a pint of blood lighter when I left and a sticker to show I had donated.

Outta sight – outta mind

Nobody asked again until 2003, right after the Invasion of Iraq. While having a discussion about the war with a friend, he said that he had heard someone saying the only thing we could do to help our troops was to donate blood or donate money.

With a growing family, I had more of the former than the latter, so I checked around to see where and when the closest donation site would be opening. Donation number two was scheduled, but this time, someone at the Red Cross site asked about how often I donated. They made mention of the idea of donating around Christmas each year as a way to give someone else a gift that might save a life but cost me nothing. That sounded like a great idea, so I put a yearly note on my Day-Timer calendar for each December.

You can do more, you know?

It was another conversation with a Red Cross worker that finally spurred me to do more when they said, “You know, you can donate every eight weeks, don’t you?” Well, no, I guess I didn’t, but that started it rolling, trying to donate as frequently as my schedule would permit.

I also realized at that time that if I hadn’t been asked by someone else to go the first time, I might have never donated at all. I then started talking about donations to family members and other friends.

I do the coming events A/V screens in our church’s foyer and lobby, so I started making sure that all upcoming blood drives were advertised on our screens each time they were scheduled. Posting on social media, I’d mention the date and time with a “Won’t you join me next Tuesday?” type message.

So, I’ll end with the same message that started me – “Hey, want to come along?” There are dozens of locations available each week. It’s honestly easy to do, and you could save as many as three lives each time you donate.

Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer

Rock, Roll, and Ride with the Red Cross this World Blood Donor Day

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By Tim Poe, American Red Cross volunteer

June 14th is World Blood Donor Day, and the American Red Cross Can’t Help giving blood donors a chance to get All Shook Up, whether rocking and rolling with the legacy of Elvis at Graceland or on rides at Cedar Point.

The World Health Organization (WHO) created World Blood Donor Day to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion, highlight the critical contribution of volunteer blood donors to national health systems, and help support and expand blood donor organizations’ programs. The WHO states, “Becoming a regular voluntary blood donor is a simple but selfless step that everyone can take to strengthen their communities, support local health systems and save lives.”

The Red Cross, which supplies about 40% of the U.S. blood supply, typically sees a drop in blood donations during the summer, but the need for blood does not take a break. On average, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds, including new moms, premature babies, cancer patients and accident victims. Each day, the Red Cross needs to collect about 12,500 blood donations to meet the needs of patients at about 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.

And blood donors can now celebrate providing the gift of life with roller coasters and rock and roll!

In addition to helping save lives, through August 4th, generous blood donors at select blood drives in Northern Ohio will receive a free ticket to Cedar Point, while supplies last. To find a blood drive with this promotion, enter sponsor code “CEDARPOINT” when searching here or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

And throughout the U.S., the Red Cross is celebrating Elvis Presley–a blood donor himself who left a legacy of generosity and community service–rock and roll, and the new film, Elvis, with a chance to win a VIP trip for two to Memphis and Graceland! Through June 30th, those who come in to give blood will be automatically entered for a chance to win the trip, which includes round-trip airfare for two to Memphis, a three-night stay at The Guest House at Graceland and Elvis Entourage VIP tour, courtesy of Graceland, and $500 gift card for expenses, plus a custom-wrapped Gibson Epiphone guitar! Blood donors will also be sent a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. More information and terms and conditions are here.

Please visit redcrossblood.org to find a local blood drive. A blood donor app is also available, which makes it easy for donors to schedule and manage appointments, track the lifetime impact of donations, view health history information, and earn rewards. It is available at the above website, texting BLOODAPP to 90999, or searching “American Red Cross” in app stores.

Please help celebrate the gift of life, summer fun, the spirit of rock and roll, Elvis, and World Blood Donor Day by scheduling a donation. And thank you, thank you very much.

Local blood donors testify on World Blood Donor Day

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By Samantha Pudelski, American Red Cross volunteer

Today is World Blood Donor Day, a day where organizations around the world highlight the importance of safe blood, platelet and plasma donations provided by individuals around the world, and right here in our own backyard.

Donors are especially important at times like these, during the severe blood shortage currently being experienced, due to increased hospital demand, as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries have risen, depleting the nation’s blood supply.

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. need blood and/or platelets. It is essential for people having surgery or cancer treatment, individuals who experienced a traumatic injury and those with certain chronic illnesses. The American Red Cross provides about 40% of our nation’s blood and blood component supply, collected from generous volunteer donors at blood drive events throughout the year.

This World Blood Donor Day, we’d like to highlight some of our recent Northern Ohio blood donors and their words of encouragement to others about donating blood.

“Once you get started, you won’t want to stop. It is very rewarding.  Even when I did not have a high enough Iron level, I was not deterred. I kept trying. I kept going,” says Roberta Koester from Chardon.

Linda Goeke from Hudson said, “I love getting the messages that my blood has been sent to such and such a place to help someone in need.”

And finally Brenda Turek from Boardman talk about how little time it takes to donate: “It is easy. For me it is one hour from the time I leave home to the time I get back home.“

It’s with donation from donors like you, that life-saving blood can be provided to people when they need it the most. Only 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly, and with each new donor, we are able to better meet the supply needed.

To learn more about the donation process and to find a blood donation drive near you, visit redcross.org/blood.