Make Donating Blood Part of Your New Year 2013 Resolution

Many New Year’s resolutions focus on breaking bad habits. The American Red Cross is encouraging you to take up a positive habit instead.

By resolving to donate blood or platelets in the coming year, you can help save the lives of the one out of 10 hospital patients who require blood for emergency or ongoing medical care. Every two seconds, someone needs a blood transfusion in the United States. Your frequent donations through the American Red Cross can help keep the nation’s blood supply strong and ensure that it will be available anytime and anywhere it’s needed.

“A resolution to donate blood in the New Year is a resolution that lasts a lifetime,” said Tracy Duncan Fox, Communications Manager for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “Your donation may help save the lives of three people. It could be a 3-year old with cancer, a high school student with leukemia, or a young mother who has unexpected complications after giving birth.”

When you donate through the Red Cross, you’ll join about 4 million blood donors nationwide in a lifesaving cause. The need for blood is constant. Every day, patients across the U.S. need an average of 44,000 units of red blood cells. That’s about 16-million donations transfused to 5 million patients each year.

“Your donation is needed and may give someone another day, another week, another month to spend with loved ones and friends,” said Duncan Fox. “That’s a New Year’s resolution worth keeping.”

UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:

• Wednesday, Jan. 2, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Lincoln Township Community Building in the Hall, located at 3098 South 800 East (Fish Lake) in Walkerton. This blood drive is sponsored by Mill Creek Lion’s Club.
• Friday, Jan. 4, from noon until 4 p.m. at Laporte Public Library in the Conference Room, located at 904 Indiana Ave. in LaPorte. Come to donate and receive a coupon for a free donut from Dunkin’ Donuts!
• Tuesday, Jan. 8, from noon until 6 p.m. at St. John’s United Church of Christ in the Fellowship Hall, located at 101 St. John Road in Michigan City.
• Tuesday, Jan. 8, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Michiana Hematology Oncology, located at 1668 South U.S. 421 in Westville. Please call 785-3490 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Friday, Jan. 11, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Olive Township Elementary School in the gym, located at 300 W. Ben Street in New Carlisle. This is a Pint Size Heroes blood drive. Please go to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “otes” to schedule your blood donation appointment.
• Monday, Jan. 14, from noon until 6 p.m. at First Church of God in the gymnasium, located at 2020 E. Lincolnway in LaPorte. Come to donate and enjoy Girl Scout cookies in the refreshment area at this Girl Scouts Partnership blood drive.

How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in Indiana and Ohio), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.

About the American Red Cross
The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region serves northern and central Indiana and northwestern Ohio, and needs to collect about 500 units of blood a day to meet patient need in 60 hospitals. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.