The need for people to give blood doesn’t diminish during the busiest time of the year.

Blood is traditionally in short supply during the winter months due to the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness. January, in particular, is a difficult month for blood centers to collect blood donations. A reduction in turnout can put our nation’s blood inventory at a critical low.

That’s why January is National Blood donor month.

Did you know?

• One out of every 10 people admitted in a hospital needs blood

• More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day

• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood

• The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs

When you donate blood, you may be saving a friend’s, family members, or neighbor’s life without even knowing it. According to Lifesouth.org, the blood donated locally will stay in our community for local patient transfusions. Only if our local supply is met will they share our local blood resources with other communities.

For more information on how to donate blood:

Log onto www.redcrossblood.org or call the local chapter at 582-5800.

Or call the local LifeSouth office located in Albertville at 256-894-6066 or visit their website: www.lifesouth.org .