Lehighton Mayor Signs Proclamation in Honor of National Blood Donor Month, Urges Residents to Give Blood <! DO NOT PUT INFORMATION BELOW THIS LINE>

Lehighton Mayor Signs Proclamation in Honor of National Blood Donor Month, Urges Residents to Give Blood

News Release: January 15, 2001
Contact: Janice Osborne, Manager-Media & Community Affairs (610) 865-4400, ext. 262

Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker has declared January as National Volunteer Blood Donor Month. To help ensure an adequate blood supply, the American Red Cross wants to honor blood donors, stressing the importance of giving the gift of life through the donation of blood.

Lehighton Mayor Wilbur Bauchspies has also declared January as National Volunteer Blood Donor Month and urges residents to give blood at the next bloodmobile visit in Lehighton on Monday, Jan. 21 at the Gnaden Heutten Hospital Conference Center from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

American Red Cross Blood Services, Northeastern Pennsylvania Region (NEPA) supplies blood to 41 hospitals in 21 counties in Pennsylvania and three in New York. Over 100,000 blood donations are needed this year to have an adequate supply of blood for patients in these 41 hospitals. The Red Cross Blood Program operates through a partnership with 25 American Red Cross Chapters located throughout the NEPA Region.

"If all who are eligible to donate blood would do so on a regular basis (three to four times per year), blood needs could be met and shortages could become a thing of the past," said Molly Groody, Red Cross spokesperson.

"Blood donors are true heroes. Their gift of a part of themselves helps save lives," Groody continued. "The American Red Cross honors our blood donors during January, recognizing them for true acts of heroism."

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Blood helps accident victims, people undergoing surgery, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer and other diseases.

Anyone who is at least 17 years old, who weighs at least 105 pounds, and is healthy may give blood. People who are interested in becoming blood donors should call the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE LIFE for more information. Make an appointment today to Give Blood…The Gift of Life.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 15,500 Lehigh Valley residents.

For more information about the local Red Cross, visit www.redcrosslv.org.