The Blood Center observes National Volunteer Blood Donor Month

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center joins it’s member organizations, America’s Blood Centers and the American Association of Blood Banks in celebrating January as National Volunteer Blood Donor Month.

The theme for this year’s campaign, aimed at honoring current donors and motivating new ones is ‘Give Blood… The Gift of Life.”

The Blood Center is fortunate to have very dedicated regular, volunteer blood donors supporting the regional blood program, and saving and sustaining patient lives every day.

However, this year National Volunteer Blood Donor Month takes on a particularly special meaning. The citizens of the Texas Gulf Coast region showed their compassion through blood donation in the days following the September 11 attacks.

Remarkably, forty-five percent of these were first time donors. By recognizing and celebrating National Volunteer Blood Donor Month, The Blood Center aims to encourage these donors to become regular donors, donating blood at least three times during a calendar year.

The regional blood supply, which historically dips below acceptable levels during and alter the holiday season, when there is a decrease in donations and an increase in blood usage, is at a less than adequate supply. “Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center provides blood and blood components to patients in over 200 hospitals and healthcare facilities in its 24-county service area. To maintain the optimum level of a 3-day supply, the Blood Center must meet its daily collection goal of 700 donations.

For more information about Blood Center facility locations, ongoing drives, or the blood donation process, call The Blood Center at 713-790-1200, l-888-GV-BLOOD (1-888-482-5663) or visit The Blood Center’s Web site, www.giveblood.org.