Red Cross: Help Prevent Blood Shortages in 2025
January 8, 2025
The month of January is often a challenging time for the Red Cross to collect blood products to meet the needs of patients, especially after a busy holiday season. Winter weather and seasonal illnesses like the flu may also prevent people from making or keeping appointments. When fewer people donate, blood products can start to disappear from hospital shelves.
January is National Blood Donor Month, during which the Red Cross celebrates those who generously roll up a sleeve to help save lives and encourages others to donate.
Donors of all types – especially those with type O negative blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give.
This marks the sixth year the Red Cross and the National Football League are partnering to invite blood donors and football fans to help patients in need of lifesaving blood. The winner of the Super Bowl LIX tickets and their guest will enjoy access to pre-game activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare to New Orleans, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 7 -10), plus a $1,000 gift card.
Donors can give blood at Red Cross blood drives or Red Cross blood donation centers in Michigan for a chance to win the Super Bowl tickets. Here are three ways to make an appointment:
• Use the Red Cross Blood Donor app
• Visit RedCrossBlood.org
• Call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767)
An appointment for a whole blood donation lasts about one hour, though the actual donation takes eight to 10 minutes. Donors may donate every 56 days – up six times a year. An appointment for a platelet donation takes about two hours. Platelet donors can give every seven days – up to 24 times a year.
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MEDIA CONTACT: David Olejarz / david.olejarz@redcross.org / 313-303-0606
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.