It’s the season of giving and giving blood could mean saving someone’s life.
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood donation. But during the winter, that need becomes even more dire.
“We need donations year round but we see a drop off in donations around the holidays. We know people get busy, they’re traveling, but we also know people get sick,” said Kathleen Meyer, marketing manager of Vitalant-Illinois. “So all of that kind of results in a drop off of donations but we also see an increase in the need for blood because of things like accidents, car accidents or different weather-related accidents and people need blood all the time.”
If you’d like to donate blood, make sure you stay hydrated and eat something, avoid caffeine, and make sure you’re feeling well on the day of your donation.
Whether it’s whole blood or platelets, your donation will help someone in need.
Naperville is home to two blood donation centers, Heartland Blood Center and Vitalant – formerly LifeSource Blood Bank.
Naperville News 17’s Casey Krajewski reports.