June 14th is World Blood Donor Day.  Established by the World Health Organization in 2004, World Blood Donor Day thanks donors and raises awareness for the global need of blood products. Blood banks throughout the country, including American Red Cross and United Blood Services, are holding drives to help keep their stores full for local hospitals and medical centers.

Blood products are used for trauma patients,  those whose blood counts are low due to anemia, and many who suffer from blood disorders. One pint of blood could be used to save three lives.  Whole blood donations can last “on the shelf” for 42 days, but platelets, which provide clotting factors, only last for 5 days.

Donors are therefore needed year round.  One can donate blood every 60 days and platelets can be donated every week for up to 24 weeks a year. Although 38% of the US population is eligible to donate blood, less than 10% actually do.

World Blood Donor Day helps bring much needed blood during the summer months when less people donate. In 2016 a United States National Blood Donation Day was created along with a National Blood Donation Week, with multiple states creating state blood donation days during the first full week of September.

Doc. Daliah putting her blood money where her mouth is.  

Campaigns such as these remind people that blood is needed year round.

The World Blood Donor Day slogan this year is “What can you do?”….

Give Blood, Give Now, Give Often…..

To find the nearest blood bank near you, visit:

http://www.unitedbloodservices.org/

http://www.redcross.org/give-blood

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Daliah Wachs, MD, FAAFP is a Board Certified Family Physician. The Dr. Daliah Show , is nationally syndicated M-F from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm and Saturday from Noon-1:00 pm (all central times) at GCN.