January is National Blood Donor Month, an observance to encourage people to consider donating blood and platelets. Because of the holidays, inclement weather, and cold and flu season, the winter months often experience reduced donations and an increased risk for blood shortages for many health care facilities.

In a 1969 proclamation signed by President Richard Nixon, January was designated as National Blood Donor Month to create a time to thank those who have donated throughout the past year and to address the decrease in donations during the winter season. The Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) is grateful for all the support it has received from donors ...

The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) recently reaccredited the Blood Services Department at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) after conducting a year-long document review and recent on-site visit.

The Food and Drug Administration issued guidance in May of 2023 for blood donors, removing and adjusting some long-standing deferrals. In addition, the FDA is now recommending moving towards an individualized risk-based approach when determining donor eligibility.

Every drop counts, every donor matters! Join the league of heroes who save lives with their selfless contributions. Donate today: www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Health-Readiness/ASBP #NationalBloodDonorMonth #ASBP #ReadySetDonate

This holiday season, give the gift of life by donating blood.

This holiday, give the ONE gift that means the most for someone you may never meet: donate blood to help change a life, save a life of a military family in need. Find a ‘gift giving’ location here: www.militarydonor.com #OneGift #ChangeLivesSaveLives #DonateBlood

During the holiday and winter season, donations historically decrease – due to travel, seasonal illness, and weather conditions - but the need for blood remains the same. This holiday, take time to give ONE priceless gift of life by donating blood. Find a location or drive here: militarydonor.com #donateblood #ChangeLivesSaveLives

One priceless gift = Lives Changed. Lives Saved. This holiday, take time to give the gift of life by #donatingblood with @militaryblood. The need for blood is constant & your priceless gift makes an immediate impact for the #militaryfamily in need. Find ‘gift giving’ locations here: militarydonor.com #donatebloodsavelives #ChangeLivesSaveLives

When you donate with ASBP [@militaryblood], your donations make an immediate impact for service members, their families, retirees, and veterans in need worldwide. Give the gift of life and find a location or drive here: militarydonor.com #donateblood #ChangeLives #SaveLives

One priceless gift = Lives Changed. Lives Saved. This holiday, take time to give the gift of life by #donatingblood with @militaryblood. The need for blood is constant & your priceless gift makes an immediate impact for the #militaryfamily in need. Find ‘gift giving’ locations here: militarydonor.com #donatebloodsavelives #ChangeLivesSaveLives

The Armed Services Blood Program helps ensure mission readiness for injured military personnel in need of blood and functions as the military’s only blood program. Aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, the ASBP operates out of the Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune’s Blood Donor Center.

The Armed Services Blood Program is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2023 ASBP’s Lifetime Achievement Award: retired U.S. Army Col. Richard Gonzales. He has supported the military blood banking community for over 30 years, and throughout his career, Gonzales has consistently ensured ASBP mission success and more.

More than 3,500 Reserve Officer Training corps cadets from around the U.S., all attending Cadet Summer Training, helped save thousands of lives from June 26 to Aug. 15, 2023, by donating blood with the Armed Services Blood Program in a series of drives at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The ASBP has held blood drives during CST for over a decade.

The Civil Air Patrol Kentucky Wing helped support the Armed Services Blood Program blood drives that took place during Cadet Summer Training in Fort Knox, Kentucky, from July and August 2023. The ASBP has held blood drives during CST for more than a decade.