BEDFORD – Although blood drives happen year-round, you can start the year by participating in National Blood Donor Month.
According to givingblood.org, one pint of blood can save up to three lives.
They also say 43,000 pints are donated daily in the United States, but only 10% of the US population donates annually.
Lawrence County is hosting a Red Cross Blood drive for county employees and elected officials on Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Courthouse Plaza.
“I encourage all county elected officials, department heads, and employees to please volunteer for this great cause as there is great need,” said Human Resource Director Travis Sanders.
Treasurer Jody Edwards shared how she wished she could thank the persons who donated the four pints of blood that saved her daughter’s life. Her daughter hemorrhaged after giving birth to her son in August 2021.
“She would not have survived,” said Edwards. “I will never know who donated those four pints of blood. But I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Every two seconds someone is in need of blood. More than 29,000 units of blood are used every day.”
Last year, 39 units of blood were donated by county employees and officials. Edwards would like to see that number increase.
“We had 12 first-time donors last year,” she added. “Those 39 units saved 117 lives.”
