January 2009 News Release
12/16/2008
January 2009: National Blood Donor Month
The focus for the first month of the New Year is National Blood Donor Month. During the month of January, blood donations are at their lowest due to colder weather, busy travel schedules and the post-holiday season. With this decrease in donations during this time, our nation’s blood inventory can become critically low.
With this special emphasis this month, the AABB, America's Blood Centers, and the American Red Cross are pushing for more donations in January 2009. With that in mind, here are a few facts to help make you aware of why this is so vital to our nation. Every day in our nation, hospitals and emergency treatment facilities require more than 39,000 units of blood for cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, various other diseases, and accident victims. This month’s goal is to help insure that blood is available wherever and whenever it is needed to help save lives.
The need for blood donations continually grows each day. It is reported that every two seconds, someone needs blood. However, blood donation shortages occur very heavily during the summer and winter months. So how can you help with this need? Volunteer to donate blood as often as possible.
The majority of all blood donations are given by volunteers each year, and there are only a few requirements to make you eligible for donation. You must be at least 17 years of age and over 110 pounds. You also must wait 56 days between blood donations. Also, the blood donation process only takes about 10-20 minutes of your time from the moment you sign in to the time you walk out of the door. However, with such a small number of guidelines, only five percent of healthy eligible Americans actually donate blood.
During the month of January 2009, make this your first goal of the year. There is no substitute for human blood, and it is needed every day to save lives. Let your resolution be to make a difference!
Information taken from http://www.aabb.org/Content/Donate_Blood
2009 Healthy Tips!
How Can I Control a Raging Sweet Tooth? By Top Dietitians of the American Dietetic Association for Prevention, 2007
1. Once in a while, have a lean, mean salad for lunch or dinner, and save the meal's calories for a full dessert.
2. Are you the kind of person who does better if you make up your mind to do without sweets and just not have them around? Or are you going to do better if you have a limited amount of sweets every day? One RD reported that most of her clients pick the latter and find they can avoid bingeing after a few days.
3. If your family thinks they need a very sweet treat every night, try to strike a balance between offering healthy choices but allowing them some "free will." Compromise with low-fat ice cream and fruit, or sometimes just fruit with a dollop of whipped cream.
By Top Dietitians of the American Dietetic Association for Prevention, 2007
Happy New Year!
Wishing You the Best in 2009!
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