January is National Blood Donor Month
Release Date: January 10, 2008
Release Number: R10-08-044
SEATTLE, Wash. -- January has been recognized as National Blood Donor Month for almost forty years (since 1970). Blood is traditionally in short supply during the winter months due to holiday travel schedules, inclement weather and illness and January in particular is a difficult month for blood center blood donations. But according to FEMA Regional Administrator Susan Reinertson, if donations are down, the need for blood isn't. "Every three seconds someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion, and approximately 39,000 units of red blood are needed every day," said Reinertson. "Donating blood is a simple, safe, life-saving and selfless gift that enhances the level of preparedness of each and every community in this nation."
A wealth of information and preparedness tips (are) is available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's READY.GOV site at: www.ready.gov and from FEMA at: www.fema.gov.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Thursday, 10-Jan-2008 17:56:22