CHRISTUS Health encourages blood donations to recognize World Blood Donor Day June 14

World Blood Donor Day is June 14 and CHRISTUS Health encourages the community to learn about the importance of blood donation and how it helps to save lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets every two seconds.

“World Blood Donor Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and educate the public about the critical need for blood donations,” said Jessica Johnson, clinical laboratory supervisor at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System. “Whether someone donates once or regularly, every contribution helps ensure hospitals have the resources to treat patients in life-threatening situations.”

Blood donations are essential for patients undergoing surgeries, cancer treatments, trauma care and other medical procedures. Blood bank specialists determine blood type based on whether you have antigen A or B on your red blood cells. They also look for a protein called the Rh factor. They classify your blood type as positive (+) if you have this protein and negative (-) if you don’t.

Understanding blood types can help people recognize the importance of their donations:

• O Negative: Known as the universal blood type, can be given to patients of any blood type and is crucial in emergencies.
• O Positive: The most common blood type, often used in trauma care and surgeries.
• AB Positive: Known as the universal recipient, can safely receive blood from any other blood type. The AB+ blood type recognizes all potential antigens as safe, so your immune system does not launch an attack.
• AB Plasma Donors: AB plasma is universal and can be used for patients of all blood types.

“Every blood type serves a unique and essential purpose in saving lives,” Johnson said. “Donating helps to ensure hospitals have the right type of blood available when it’s needed the most.”

Anyone interested in donating blood can find local blood drives through community centers, hospitals and blood banks.

CHRISTUS St. Michael partners with Carter BloodCare to coordinate blood drives, providing a convenient opportunity for community members to donate.

Upcoming blood drives include:

• St. Edward’s Catholic Church: June 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Atlanta Chamber of Commerce: July 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Johnson encourages donors of all blood types to consider blood donation.

“A single blood donation can help save as many as three lives,” Johnson said. “The demand for blood never stops, and even a small act like donating can make a significant difference for someone in our community.”