January is National Blood Donor Month, and the American Red Cross needs your help. Studies show that although 38% of Americans are eligible to donate blood, only 10% actually do so. Every 2 seconds someone needs blood, and the average transfusion is 3 pints. A single car accident victim may need as much as 100 pints of blood. The donation process is relatively simple and painless, and even one person can make a huge difference. If you began donating at age 17 and donated every 56 days until the age of 76, you would have given 48 gallons of blood and potentially helped save over 1000 lives!
The Red Cross has a lot of interesting information about blood types, such as type O is the most common type, and type O- can be given to any other type safely. Donations are especially needed for O- blood because it can be quickly given in an emergency before blood type is determined.
Visit the Red Cross site to find out where you can donate!