Every three seconds, someone needs blood. Every minute, patients use more than 36 units of blood or blood products. Every day, approximately 40,000 units of blood are used throughout the country.

Locally, Mary Greeley Medical Center’s Blood Bank collected more than 2,700 pints of blood with more than 3,000 units transfused to hundreds of patients.

We did well last year, but the demand for blood is greater today than ever, as the nation’s supply needs constant replenishment. An estimated 8 million people donate blood in the United States each year, and more than 23 million units of blood and blood components are transferred each year.

We are proud of our successes. However, many more donors are needed, as accident victims, people undergoing surgery and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases all need blood.

Despite the growing need for donors, less than 5 percent of healthy Americans eligible to give blood actually donate each year. Although scientists are working to develop alternatives, there are no artificial substitutes.

The bottom line: giving blood saves lives.

In declaring January 1998 to be National Volunteer Blood Donor Month, President Clinton stated, “Donating blood is one of the fastest, safest and most important ways we can help our fellow citizens. By helping our nation to maintain a safe and sufficient blood supply, you are helping to build a brighter future for us all..”

Mary Greeley Medical Center’s Blood Band joins the American Association of Blood Banks, American Red Cross and America’s Blood Centers in saluting past and present blood donors and in soliciting new donors.

We encourage regular blood donations from healthy first-time and repeat donors.

Please call us at (515) 239-6938 to make an appointment to give blood today. Please give blood, to help others in need.

John Elliott

Mary Greeley Medical Center Blood Band Supervisor