National Blood Donor Month: The power of blood donations

Each January, National Blood Donor Month serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing need for blood donations across the country to save lives. The American Red Cross, which distributes about 40% of blood donations in the U.S., declared an emergency blood shortage earlier this month. The Red Cross indicated that they are “experiencing the lowest number of people giving in the last 20 years.” The organization said it experienced a shortfall of roughly 7,000 blood and platelet donations during the holiday season between Christmas and New Year’s Day, in addition to a deficit of 30,000 donations in August, partly due to the effects of Hurricane Idalia.

HCA Healthcare has long been a partner of the Red Cross, helping to address the critical blood shortage by hosting blood drives at our headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, for the past 16 years. In addition to the American Red Cross, our nationwide network of hospitals partner with Blood Assurance and OneBlood to help ensure our communities have access to blood products.  

The care teams at the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute (CBCI) at HCA Healthcare’s Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center see the life-saving results of blood donation every day. Ranked among the top cancer center programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report, CBCI is committed to advancing science and care for patients with blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Dr. Tara Gregory, CBCI Medical Director at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, says that her team’s work is made possible thanks to blood donations.

Although it’s well known that donating blood benefits the recipient, you may not know it also benefits the donor.

Why is blood donation important?

Blood is vital for life — you can’t live without it. Blood circulates throughout your body to deliver essential nutrients and oxygen to your cells. When someone goes through surgery or has traumatic injuries, such as from a car accident, blood transfusions help replace any blood they have lost. Likewise, patients undergoing cancer treatment may not be able to produce enough platelets to form clots and stop bleeding, and transfusions help reverse that loss.

In the U.S., someone needs blood every two seconds. However, only 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly. Because blood and platelets can’t be manufactured, there’s no other source if the supply runs out. So, it’s imperative that people who meet the requirements donate as often as possible.

What are the benefits of donating blood?

Everyone has their own reason for donating blood. Some people do it to help those in need as one donation can save up to three lives. Others do it to help a community after a natural disaster. Some might even do it for the snacks and juice! No matter the reason, donating blood is a safe, simple process that takes less than an hour but can have a lifelong impact on the recipient.

Donating blood regularly can also benefit you in a few ways:

Reduces your risk of heart attack

Donating blood at least once a year can help improve your blood flow and reduce arterial blockages. Studies dating back to the late 1990s have found that people who donated blood reduced their risk of experiencing a heart attack by 88%.

Balances your iron levels

Too much iron in the blood can cause your arteries to harden (atherosclerosis). This can restrict blood flow to the rest of the body. Donating blood helps reduce the amount of iron in your blood, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.

Reveals potential health issues

Although you won’t get a full physical examination like you would at the doctor’s office, you’ll get a mini exam before your blood draw. The wellness checkup includes:

• Blood pressure reading
• Body temperature check
• Cholesterol screening
• Hemoglobin review
• Iron count
• Pulse count

This checkup can help reveal health issues you may not have been aware of. It’s not uncommon for donors to receive diagnoses of arrhythmia or high blood pressure from the checkup.

Lowers your risk of cancer

As noted, too much iron in the blood can be bad for your body. One of the benefits of donating blood and reducing iron stores is that it can reduce your risk of cancer. Iron is associated with cancer-causing free radicals, unstable atoms that can damage cells and cause illness.

One study even found that, compared to a control group, patients who donated blood multiple times a year lowered their iron levels and their risk of getting cancer.

HCA Healthcare patient and first-time mom saved by the generosity of blood donors

First-time mom Nicole Johnson wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for blood donations and the expert team at HCA Healthcare affiliate hospital Medical City Lewisville in Texas. On the day she was planning to welcome her baby girl into the world, Nicole experienced a rare, sudden and life-threatening birth complication called amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), which occurs when amniotic fluid enters the maternal bloodstream just before, during or immediately after childbirth.

Nicole delivered her baby girl and needed emergency surgery, where she received a transfusion of 30 units of blood to save her life. “The singular most important thing is the immediate and rapid transfusion of blood products and stabilization of the mom and delivery of the baby,” said Dr. Laura Finger, Nicole’s OB-GYN at Medical City Lewisville. “Time was so critical.”

Today, Nicole credits her care team and blood donors for being able to see her little girl grow up. “The day that this happened, it was the most blood they’d had in the hospital in weeks – and I wouldn’t be here without it,” she recalled.

As a way to pay it forward, Nicole and her husband Devon, a local first responder, now advocate for greater awareness about AFE and the importance of blood donations. The couple recently worked with Medical City Lewisville and the Red Cross to host a community blood drive in response to the current blood needs in their community and across the country.

Donate blood to give the gift of life

Donating blood is one of the most generous things you can do, and it doesn’t take much time at all. If you can donate more than once a year, you’ll play a critical role in keeping the nation’s blood supply stable. If you’re interested in donating blood, check the requirements and learn more about the process to know what to expect.

Schedule an appointment to donate blood on the American Red Cross’ website.