National Blood Donor Month Wristbands

Written by Michele Wheat

In the United States, someone requires blood every two seconds. Whether whole, red cells, platelets and/or plasma, nearly 21 million blood components are transfused every year for surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses, traumatic injuries, etc. But blood is something we often take for granted until we see or unfortunately lose it, thus donating it is often not top of mind for many. What’s more, one of the main reasons why people don’t give blood is due to lack of education about its importance… this is why National Blood Donor Month is so vital to our overall society’s health.

General Information & Statistics About Blood Donation

Blood is an anatomical necessity; it circulates our bodies, delivering oxygen and nutrients to our cells and diverting metabolic waste products away from them. It is fundamental in sustaining life, especially since there is no substitute for it. Blood cannot be made or manufactured; it is an invaluable resource completely reliant on volunteers who are willing (and eligible) to donate. This is why according to the World Health Organization [WHO], “blood is the most precious gift that anyone can give to another person- the gift of life. A decision to donate your blood can save a life, or even several if your blood is separated into its components- red cells, platelets and plasma.”

In order to donate blood, the following criteria must first be met:

  • In good health/feeling well
  • Minimum age of 16 years old (in most states)
  • Minimum weight of 110 lbs.

From there, full-donor eligibility will be determined through confidential survey questions regarding personal health, travel history, and medications taken. Temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin level will also be checked.

More than 13,000 donations are needed daily in order to maintain the blood supply required by the thousands of hospitals, clinics, and treatment centers across America. Unfortunately, only 38% of the population is eligible to donate, of which less than 10% actually do so annually. Given this perpetual shortage, National Blood Donor Month was first declared by President Richard Nixon on December 31st 1969, as a way to honor existing donors and encourage future ones to join.

Cause & Awareness Facts About Blood Donation

For the past 50 years, the lifesaving contributions blood donors make are recognized every January. The timing of the observance month is intentional, as blood and platelet donations often decrease during the winter months due to factors such as the busy holidays, seasonal illnesses, and inclement conditions. Severe weather specifically often causes many blood drives to be cancelled, resulting in hundreds of uncollected donations. In an effort to highlight and combat this, January felt the most fitting to serve as the official awareness month for blood donation. But because the scarcity of blood is a global health matter, World Blood Donor Day was further established in 2005. Similar to National Blood Donor Month, World Blood Donor Day aims to raise public consciousness regarding the need for regular blood donations, as well as thank donors for their service and dedication to saving lives. It also celebrates medical professionals who research/develop new technology and uses for donated blood, as well as medical teams that use blood on a regular basis. In commemoration of the birthday anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, the scientist who won the Nobel Prize for his 1901 discovery of the ‘ABO’ blood group system, June 14th is observed internationally as World Donor Day.

Whether medical/health, social, or political-based, causes and non-profits around the world use colored silicone wristbands to garner funds and generate support for their missions. Like its predecessor the ‘awareness ribbon,’ the color/pattern of the silicone bracelet implies that the wearer is a proponent of the same endeavor. It also serves to unite those with similar passions and interests. For National Blood Donor Month, a red silicone wristband is used to designate advocacy for the cause; related clipart graphics are often utilized in the band design itself to further affiliate with blood donation awareness and The American Red Cross. Some common images used include:

National Blood Donor Month Silicone Wristbands

Your lightweight, durable silicone bracelets for National Blood Donor Month can be customized within mere minutes direct from our website. To begin, select your preferred inscription method (printed, debossed, ink injected, color coat, embossed, embossed printed); bandwidth; band colors/patterns (solid, segmented, swirl, glow-in-the-dark); adult/youth sizes; and any add-ons like keychain conversion and individual bagging. To make your National Blood Donor Month theme stand out even more, customize the bands with the font, ink color (if applicable), format, and messaging of your choice. Upload your own logos/graphics if you wish, or choose from the hundreds of clipart options we offer. From there, pick your preferred delivery date- and you’re done!  If you have a design request that cannot be achieved via our online customization tool (ex: multiple ink or specific Pantone [PMS] colors, distinct bandwidth measurements, precise structuring/placement of text/artwork, etc.), no worries! Our Wristband Resources Customer Service Team is here Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm CST, and ready to assist. Call 1.888.256.0816 or email info@wristband.com, and we will take care of the rest