National Blood Donor Month

Categories:: Health
Tags:: Awareness
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every January
Holiday emoji:: 🩸

National Blood Donor Month champions the life-saving act of blood donation throughout January. This vital observance highlights the constant need for blood products, especially during challenging winter months when donations often dip. Find a local drive, learn about eligibility, and commit to making a difference.

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Expected National Blood Donor Month Deals

National Blood Donor Month focuses on community engagement and life-saving donations rather than commercial deals. Organizations like the American Red Cross, AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies), and Blood Centers of America will host numerous blood drives and awareness campaigns. Many local blood centers offer small incentives such as gift cards, t-shirts, or snacks to thank donors. Corporate partners often organize employee blood drives, sometimes with matching donation programs or paid time off for staff to donate. Look for local hospital systems and community centers to promote donation opportunities. We will update this page with confirmed live drives and campaigns as January approaches.

Platform Guide for National Blood Donor Month

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalBloodDonorMonth. Share stories of how blood donation has impacted lives, or post a selfie from your donation.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalBloodDonorMonth. Share urgent calls for specific blood types or retweet facts about donation.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalBloodDonorMonth. Join local blood drive event pages and encourage friends and family to donate.

National Blood Donor Month Hero

Karl Landsteiner

Karl Landsteiner (1868–1943) was an Austrian-American immunologist and pathologist. In 1901, he discovered the ABO blood groups, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1930. His groundbreaking work made blood transfusions safe and revolutionized modern medicine, directly impacting millions of lives.

National Blood Donor Month timeline

1937

Physician opens first blood bank

Hungarian physician Bernard Fantus establishes the first hospital blood bank in the United States at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.

1907

Ottenberg makes the first transfusion

Based on Landsteiner's discoveries, the American physician Reuben Ottenberg performs the first successful blood transfusion using blood typing and crossmatching at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

Early 1900s

Are you my type?

The Austrian Dr. Karl Landsteiner develops the ABO blood group system. Jan Jansky, a Czech doctor is credited with the first classification of blood into four types: A, B, AB, and O.

1628

Book gets the blood going

English physician William Harvey publishes "On the Motion of the Heart and Blood," describing his account of the circulation of blood through the human body.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Blood Donor Month

Local businesses can play a crucial role in National Blood Donor Month by hosting blood drives on-site, making it convenient for employees and community members to donate. Promote the importance of donation through in-store signage or social media campaigns, partnering with local blood centers. Consider offering small incentives or recognition to employees who donate, fostering a culture of giving back and supporting community health.

National Blood Donor Month FAQs

When is National Blood Donor Month?

In 2027, National Blood Donor Month will again take place for the entire month of January, serving as a vital reminder to maintain a stable blood supply. Look for opportunities to donate at local centers.

How many blood donations are needed in the U.S. each year?

The demand for blood remains constant, with nearly 21 million blood components transfused each year in the U.S. This underscores the continuous need for eligible donors to step forward and contribute.

Who can donate blood?

In 2027, common reasons for deferral include certain medications, recent travel to specific regions, or medical conditions. It’s always best to check with your local blood center or the American Red Cross for the most current guidelines.

What are the different types of blood components donated?

Beyond whole blood, specialized donations like apheresis allow donors to give specific components, such as only platelets or plasma. This targeted approach helps meet specific patient requirements more efficiently.

How to Observe National Blood Donor Month

Donate
Not just in honor of National Blood Donor Month, but in the simple spirit of providing the stuff of life to those who need it most. Donate now. Donate again in eight weeks. Repeat.
Inspire
National Blood Donor Month can inspire people to donate. And those donations can in turn inspire others to donate, creating an exponential increase in blood donations when and where they're needed the most.
Learn and remember your blood type
What's your blood type? Some examples: O positive donors are needed more often than other blood types. O negative donors are considered "universal donors." AB positive donors are "universal recipients."

5 Amazing Facts About Blood Donations

Not enough blood for all of us
According to the American Red Cross, about 38 percent of the U.S. population can donate blood — but only 10 percent actually do.
Fill 'er up with regular — donations
Brookhaven National Laboratory says that people who begin donating blood at age 17 and donate every eight weeks will have donated 48 gallons of blood by age 76.
Donate blood and get medical info
When we donate blood, labs examine the donation for multiple infectious diseases, such as HIV and West Nile virus.
Dogs can donate, too!
Your dog can donate blood, too. Check with your veterinarian and the Humane Society to make sure you know the local rules and regulations for this type of donation.
The multiplier effect is huge
Every time we donate one pint of blood, the potential is there to save three lives.

Why National Blood Donor Month is Important

Donating blood save lives
Someone needs blood every few seconds in the United States. And more than 4.5 million Americans would die every year without lifesaving blood transfusions. National Blood Donor Month helps us remember these vital statistics.
It's the gift that keeps on giving
The American Red Cross needs 13,000 blood donations every single day to maintain an appropriate blood supply. Fortunately, eligible blood donors can donate blood every eight weeks.
It's good for donors, too
The American Journal of Epidemiology reports that blood donors are 88 percent less likely to have a heart attack.