By Shannin Prather
January 2023 | 2023 Winter Newsletter
Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, surgery and organ transplant patients, and patients battling cancer. According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
There are different types of blood donations you may be able to make, including Whole Blood, Platelet, or Plasma donations. Giving the “right” type of blood donation helps ensure the best use of your valuable contribution.
Blood donors who are from the Black community play a critical role in helping people with sickle cell disease. It is essential that the blood sickle cell patients receive be the most compatible match possible, which generally comes from someone of the same race or similar ethnicity.
There are requirements donors must meet to be eligible to donate blood based on their donation type. To learn about eligibility for the different blood donation types and how to schedule an appointment to donate, visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) 733-2767.