Giving blood can be the ultimate gift because it can never be manufactured. Those who give blood regularly often have personally experienced what it’s like when a friend or loved one needs blood. They know that their blood might be needed by a child after a bike accident or a mom after a C-section, by a grandfather after heart surgery or a dad going through cancer treatment.

Just one donation of blood – one pint - can save three people’s lives because the blood can be divided into many different components. Blood donations are typically used for patients with trauma and those with various medical problems: cancer, open-heart surgery, obstetrics/gynecology surgery, neonatal and sickle cell patients.

The most needed gift
Statistics from the American Association of Blood Banks reinforce just how essential blood donation can be:

• 4.5 million Americans would die each year without the lifesaving donation of blood.
• One out of every 10 Americans entering the hospital need blood.
• Every two seconds someone in our nation needs blood.

A donation of blood to Adventist Lab Partners Blood Center stays right here in the community and supports patients at Adventist Bolingbrook, Adventist GlenOaks, Adventist Hinsdale and Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospitals.

Who can give
Most healthy individuals can give blood. Things to consider include:

• Anemia. Having anemia, or iron-poor blood, in the past doesn’t mean it is an ongoing condition. Anemia levels can fluctuate depending on diet and physiological history. A daily vitamin supplement with iron may treat anemia, but patients should consult with their physician beforehand.
• Medications. Some donors assume they can’t donate blood because they take medications. However, people who take blood pressure medications, antidepressants, cholesterol drugs and diabetes medications can donate blood. Diabetic patients who take insulin are not eligible but most other prescription medications do not disqualify a donor from giving blood.
• Time needed to donate. Some potential donors don’t realize that the actual process of donating blood only takes about 10 minutes. The total time commitment is 30 to 40 minutes, but most of that time is spent answering questions, receiving a mini physical and enjoying juice and cookies afterward.
• How often to donate. Some donors believe they can only give once or twice a year. The fact is, someone donating whole blood can give every 56 days.

January is National Donor Month
During January, please take time to give blood at the Adventist Lab Partners Blood Center, located at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital. Everyone who donates blood during the month of January will be eligible to participate in a prize drawing for an Apple iPad.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday. Donors can make an appointment by calling 630-856-7840 or by visiting our center at 121 N. Elm St., level B2, Hinsdale.