National Blood Donor Month
January marks National Blood Donor Month!
National Blood Donor Month started on Dec. 31, 1969, due to President Richard Nixon. This was done to encourage people to donate blood.
Why January?
The holidays, colder weather, flu season and cold season create a culmination of reasons that there are blood shortages. The holiday bustle of traveling and meeting with family leads to fewer people giving blood and increases in sicknesses mean that there is a higher demand for blood.
This is especially crucial over the past few years due to COVID.
Where Can You Donate Blood?
Various locations in the Aiken/ Augusta area allow people to donate blood:
Shepherd Community Blood Center
353 Fabian Dr, Aiken
1533 Wrightsboro Rd, Augusta
4329 Washington Road, Evans
290 Meridian Dr, Grovetown
American Red Cross
1314 Pine Log Rd, Aiken
CSL Plasma
3459 Peach Orchard Rd, Augusta
All blood types are desired! Type O-negative blood is in high demand due to it being the universal donor. O-negative blood can be given to anyone, but people with O-negative blood can only receive O-negative blood.
