By CATHERINE DONNELLY
Special to the PRESS
The turning of the calendar means a fresh start for so many. It’s also a reminder that January is National Blood Donation Month, and the act of donating blood supports local communities and hospitals and helps to pay back society for the times when someone or their families have needed blood in the past. And if there isn’t a local blood drive in the area, it’s easy to go online and find a place close by to donate.
According to the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) website, a blood donation is a life-saving altruistic gift that an individual can give to others, and you never know who will be in need, including oneself or loved ones. It’s important to keep the supply up in case of emergencies and man-made or natural disasters. It takes less than an hour for eligible individuals to donate, and one unit can be separated into four parts to help save several lives.
Multiple agencies, like The Red Cross and AABB, encourage those eligible to donate blood to do it regularly to ensure that this resource is available for patients whenever and wherever it’s needed.
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