JANUARY 2009 IS

NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH

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.

AABB, in conjunction with America's Blood Centers and the American Red Cross, is celebrating National Blood Donor Month (NBDM) 2009 to encourage donors to give or pledge to give blood. 

AABB is pleased to present a set of NBDM materials, thereby providing blood collection facilities and other organizations with a unifying theme for January 2009.  These NBDM materials can be utilized in a variety of ways:

• Print the flyer and poster as provided, or add your logo and/or contact information before printing.
• Add the logo to press releases, blood drive promotional materials, T-shirts and other items used to promote the need for blood donors.
• Use the logo as a link in email communications, allowing for one-click access to information about the need for blood during NBDM.
• Use the HTML newsletter banner template to communicate a testimonial of appreciation to your email donor base, donor group chairpersons and other volunteers.
• Place the logo on your facility’s Web site and/or use it as a way to link to the AABB Web site.

Every day in our country, approximately 39,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident victims.  Our goal is to help ensure that blood is available to patients whenever and wherever it is needed because it is the blood on the shelves that helps saves lives.