January is National Blood Donor Month. Historically, blood donations decrease in the holiday and winter season as schedules change due to travel and leave, weather conditions intensify, and seasonal illnesses take hold. However, the need for blood remains constant.
Donated blood is used every day at hospitals and clinics worldwide across the Military Health System. The Department of Defense maintains stores of blood to be available for contingencies, disaster response and potential humanitarian missions. Since blood is perishable, these stores must be constantly maintained and replaced to maintain readiness.
Celebrate National Blood Donor Month by making plans to donate in 2023.
Armed Services Blood Program
The Armed Services Blood Program - also known as the Military Blood Program - is the official military blood program of the U.S. armed forces.
As a joint operation among the military services (Army, Navy, Air Force), the ASBP:
- Provides quality blood products for service members, their families, retirees, and veterans worldwide in both peace and war.
- Collects, processes, stores, transports, and distributes blood worldwide.
- Works closely with civilian counterparts in times of need.
Blood Donations Help Whenever and Wherever Needed
The ASBP is focused on equipping the warfighter with lifesaving blood products needed on the battlefield as well as in military treatment facilities around the world.
Blood products are used for patients of all ages for many reasons—from cancer patients to those with battlefield injuries, military members and their families depend on blood donors every day.
You donation can save:
- A service member injured in action
- A military child with cancer
- A family member in need of heart surgery
Blood Donor Facts
Facts About Blood and Donations:
- Of the 38% of Americans eligible to donate blood, only 3% do.
- Every two second someone in the U.S. needs blood.
- When you donate whole blood, it can be used for blood loss, emergencies/trauma, and surgery.
- When you donate platelets, it can be used for cancer treatments, anemia, and blood disorders.
- When you donate plasma, it can be used for bleeding disorders and burn patient treatment.
Blood Donor Deferral Lifted for 'Mad Cow' Disease
- Recently updated guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allow more people to donate blood.
- Potential blood donors who were once deferred for geographic risk factors related to Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob (vCJD), commonly known as "Mad Cow" disease, may now be eligible to donate, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.
- This includes service members or dependent who lived in or were stationed or received transfusions, in Europe, the U.K. and Ireland for any period of time.
Videos to Share
Please share these videos on your social media channels and on video platforms within your MTFs.
Suggested Social Media Message: The #DHA Armed Service Blood Program collects blood and ships out all over the world to support U.S. Military operations. Army, Air Force, Navy and DOD civilians lead blood drives and donate in their local community. With an ongoing shortage of blood product, the need to donate blood is vital! What better time than during National Blood Donor Month? #NationalBloodDonorMonth #LivingGivingSavingLives #NBDM23 #ThankYou4SavingLives #CelebrateAndDonate”
Suggested Social Media Message: “When a disaster strikes, blood is needed immediately, there is no time to wait for donations. Donate today, to prepare for tomorrow. Find where you can donate blood through the Armed Services Blood Program. One donation can save up to 3 lives. https://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/Military Blood Donation Webpage #NationalBloodDonorMonth #LivingGivingSavingLives #NBDM23 #ThankYou4SavingLives #CelebrateAndDonate”
Suggested Social Media Message: “Will DHA Senior Enlisted Leader, CSM Michael Gragg conquer his fear of donating blood? Watch as CSM Gragg and his wife Rusita attend a blood drive. "Disasters Don't Wait, Donate Blood Today" https://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/Military Blood Donation webpage #NationalBloodDonorMonth #ASBP”
Suggested Social Media Message: “Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Gragg, DHA Senior Enlisted Leader, sits down with retired Sgt. Russell Himmelberger, to talk about his service, his injury during OIF, and why he donates blood to the Armed Services Blood Program. One donation can save up to three lives! https://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/Military Blood Donation webpage #LivingGivingSavingLives #NBDM23 #ThankYou4SavingLives #CelebrateAndDonate”
Suggested Social Media Message: “Wounded Warrior Travis Mills, a quadruple amputee, talks about his battlefield injuries and why donating blood to the Armed Services Blood Program is so important. https://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/Military Blood Donor webpage #BloodDonorMonth #LivingGivingSavingLives #NBDM23 #ThankYou4SavingLives #CelebrateAndDonate”
Social Media Content & Graphics
Use this banner graphic on your website or social media channels to recognize National Blood Donor Month.
Suggested Social Media Message: "By donating blood with the Armed Service Blood Program, you can help support service members, their families, retirees, and veterans in need worldwide. Celebrate National Blood Donor Month and Donate! Find an ASBP site near you: https://www.militarydonor.com/” #LivingGivingSavingLives #NBDM23 #ThankYou4SavingLives #CelebrateAndDonate"
Suggested Social Media Message: "By donating blood with the Armed Services Blood Program, you can help support service members, their families, retirees, and veterans in need worldwide. Celebrate National Blood Donor Month and Donate! Find an ASBP site near you: https://www.militarydonor.com/” #LivingGivingSavingLives #NBDM23 #ThankYou4SavingLives #CelebrateAndDonate"
Suggested Social Media Message: “Donating just got easier as the #FDA recently fully removed a major travel deferral. Restrictions for vCJD, commonly referred to as ‘Mad Cow’ disease, have been lifted! These restrictions affected many within the military community who were stationed in Europe. You may now be eligible to donate! Learn more here: https://www.health.mil/News/Articles/2022/11/09/Mad-Cow-Blood-Donor-Ban-Lifted #LivingGivingSavingLives #NBDM23 #ThankYou4SavingLives #MadCowDeferralLifted"
Suggested Social Media Message: “This year over 4.5 million people will need a blood transfusion. You can help make that life-saving resource available. Find out how to donate today: https://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/index.html Military Blood Donor Webpage #NationalBloodDonorMonth #NBDM23 #ThankYou4SavingLives #CelebrateAndDonate
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“By donating blood with the Armed Services Blood Program, you can help support service members, their families, retirees, and veterans in need worldwide. Celebrate National Blood Donor Month and Donate! Find an ASBP site near you: MilitaryDonor.com #LivingGivingSavingLives #NBDM23 #ThankYou4SavingLives #CelebrateAndDonate
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