National Blood Donors Month

person donating blood

National Blood Donors month is a time observed each year to encourage current blood donors and new blood donors to give blood. Here’s what you need to know about this particular time and why it’s crucial.

What is blood donors month?

Nation Blood Donors month takes place every year in January and is a time to celebrate all of the individuals who donate blood to help others. Every day, individuals donate blood and platelets to save the lives of those in need potentially. However, January is one of the worst months as far as shortages go.

Because of the holidays and seasonal sickness, few people donate blood in November and December. This shortage of donors results in hospitals and clinics going through their stored supply of blood without new blood coming in. Each January, many emergency services are dealing with shortages of blood that could be catastrophic for individuals in need.

To combat the shortage, the National Blood Donors month was instituted nearly 50 years ago. The month is a drive to get more people to donate blood. You may see signs and commercials calling for individuals to serve by donating throughout the month. If you’ve never donated blood before, there’s no better time to start than this January!

Why You Should Donate Blood

Donating blood is not only noble but can save someone’s life. Every two seconds in the United States, someone needs blood. Car accidents, major surgeries, and other unforeseen problems leave individuals needing blood that can only be received if someone chooses to donate.

Unfortunately, these disasters don’t go away during pandemics, holidays, or the flu season. This leads to an even greater need for people to donate. From grandparents fighting COVID-19 who need plasma to children battling cancer to mothers dealing with complications during childbirth, blood is a life-saving tool that only willing individuals can offer.

The vast need for donors is the single most significant reason you should consider becoming a blood donor. Without your willingness to give, individuals may lose their lives to the national blood shortage.

How to Donate Blood

If you’re considering donating blood, you can rest easy knowing it’s a simple process. The American Red Cross is an excellent resource for finding clinics in your area where you can donate.

Contact a local blood donor clinic and set up an appointment. They will likely ask you a few questions about your medical history, as certain conditions may disqualify you as a valid donor, such as:

  • Having AIDS
  • Being HIV positive
  • Having a fever
  • Showing symptoms of certain illnesses
  • History of drug abuse
  • Etc.

The clinic will walk you through anything that may disqualify you from meeting the requirements to donate. However, provided everything is good to go, they will sit you down in a chair, draw you blood, and you’ll be done. The process generally takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

After you’ve finished donating blood, you’ll probably be a little light-headed. This is normal. Most clinics will offer you a sandwich, cookie, juice, or similar food to help bring your strength up. However, if you are donating blood, it’s a good idea to take a friend who can drive you home afterward. Donating blood affects some people more than others, and the last thing you would want is to pass out on the way home. Take precautions, and be a hero today by donating blood to those in need!

We Can Help!

Work Health Solutions has made it their mission to help provide necessary healthcare for those who need it, especially in the working environment. We understand the difficulty of taking care of employees in the workplace. If you’re planning to conduct occupational health spirometry testing, contact us today to help get it done efficiently.

Work Health Solutions

Work Health Solutions

About Us

Work Health Solutions is dedicated to preserving a safe work environment and improving existing programs and care for local, regional and national organizations.

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Dr. Glen Cheng

A physician-attorney with a dedication to healthcare innovation, informatics, and digital health.

  • Currently spearheads employee health protection and promotion within the VA Pittsburgh Health Care System.
  • Trained in residency at Harvard, achieving board certification as a physician; also a licensed patent attorney with experience as FDA regulatory counsel.
  • Co-founded Acceleromics, a consulting firm providing clinical and regulatory guidance to digital health startups.

Erin Davis

 Chief Clinical Officer at Work Health Solutions, certified in Adult-Gerontology (AGNP-C) and Athletic Training (ATC).

  • Oversees clinical operations and ensures high clinical standards across the company’s national field staff.
  • Former Manager of Clinic Operations and Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner at Stanford University Occupational Health Center (SUOHC).
  • Specialized in treating occupational injuries and illnesses, and provided medical surveillance and travel medicine consults at Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Lab.
  • Dedicated to sports and occupational injury treatment and prevention.
  • Assistant Clinical Faculty at UCSF, mentoring students in clinical rotations within the Adult Gerontology and Occupational and Environmental Health Program.
  • Holds leadership roles as Treasurer and President Elect of the California El Camino Real Association of Occupational Health Nurses (CECRAOHN), affiliated with the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN).

Dr. Robert Goldsmith

Founder and President of NBS Healthcare Group, with a focus on innovation in healthcare consulting.

  • Previous role as Executive Director for Employee Health at Novartis Services, Inc., leading health services and clinical support.
  • Instrumental in creating an integrated healthcare system at Novartis.
  • Former private practice in internal medicine in Stamford, Connecticut, and Medical Director consultant for GTE Corporation.
  • Transitioned to GE as a Global Medical Director in 2000.
  • Holds a medical degree from Albert Einstein College, an MPH from the University of Connecticut, and completed training at Greenwich Hospital and Yale-New Haven Medical Center.
  • Assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the Vagelos School of Medicine, Columbia University.
  • Serves as a team physician for high school athletes in Stamford.
  • Published works on occupational health risks, primary prevention, and exercise-induced asthma.