Give a little of yourself this summer

The summer months are a great time to get involved with the American Red Cross. By giving a little of yourself this summer you can help Meet the Need: Ensure patients get the blood and platelets they need, victims of house fires and natural disasters are taken care of, and your family and community are ready with lifesaving CPR and First-Aid skills.

Visit givebloodgivelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to learn how you can Meet the Need this summer.

Your blood is needed more than you think

Do you know how much blood may be needed by patients? Find out by clicking here.

One-one-thousand, two-one-thousand: A patient just needed blood. Every 2 seconds a patient in the United States needs a blood transfusion. That's nearly 5 million patients a year – family, friends and neighbors. But did you know that the average blood donor gives less than two times a year?

Depending on your donation method, you may be able to help more patients. Click here to learn about the eligibility parameters for whole blood, platelet and double red cell donations.

If every eligible donor gave two times or more there would not be a blood shortage. During the summer months, when blood donations can drop while the need remains constant, it's especially important to give blood and help Meet the Need. Every blood donation counts!

Seven-year-old Max Nania began cooking before he turned three-years-old. His Super Hero Salad recipe (right) was created to help boost iron levels for American Red Cross blood donors. Click here for more information on hemoglobin and iron.

Healthy eating can lead to a healthy hemoglobin level too

Having a healthy hemoglobin level in your blood is a key factor when determining donor eligibility. Hemoglobin is a protein carried by the red blood cells that contains iron. A blood donor must have a hemoglobin level above a specific measure to donate blood for another person.

By changing your diet to include more high-iron foods and avoiding substances that reduce iron absorption, you can improve your iron level and therefore improve your hemoglobin.

 

Oprah's "Big Give" supports Red Cross blood drives

Pam Skaanning, WKOW-TV’s Jill Genter (donating) and Linda Brehmer, RN, Red Cross staff.

Giving blood is often considered synonymous with saving lives. But on Friday, April 11, blood donors also honored the memory of a fellow blood donor, Jason Skaanning, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2000 at the age of 17.

Each year, Pam Skaaning, Jason's mother, single-handedly organizes a Red Cross blood drive on Jason's birthday in December. Pam's efforts recently drew the attention of Oprah's local "Big Give" program. On March 20, Pam and the Red Cross received a check for $10,000 as part of the local "Big Give" program, in honor of Jason's life and to help spread the message of blood donation to the community. To celebrate the gift and further honor Jason, this second blood drive was held.