Did you know that blood donations typically drop off during and immediately after the winter holidays? Because of this, the American Red Cross is in critical need of blood donations.

One factor that has affected blood donations this year is severe winter weather, which has forced the Red Cross to cancel dozens of blood drives.

The Red Cross needs to collect more than 13,000 donations every day to help meet the needs of clinics, cancer centers and hospitals across the country. 

According to the National Trauma Institute, trauma accounts for 41 million emergency department visits and 2.3 million hospital admissions each year. And having a readily available blood supply can mean the difference between life and death for the patients who need an emergency blood transfusion.

If you ever wondered what type of blood is beneficial to a specific patient, here is a breakdown on each type and how they must be matched for a safe transfusion. 

• Type A can donate red blood cells to A’s and AB’s. 
• Type B can donate red blood cells to B’s and AB’s. 
• Type AB can donate red blood cells to other AB’s, but can receive from all others. 
• Type O can donate red bloods cells to anybody and is called the “universal donor.” 

But no matter your type, you have the opportunity to save a life each time you donate blood. 

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and help save a life, here are some tips from the Red Cross that will help make your donation experience pleasant, safe and successful: 

• Eat iron-rich foods. Before your donation, eat iron-rich foods like beans, fish, iron-fortified cereals, poultry, raisins and spinach to maintain a healthy iron level in your diet.
• Eat a healthy meal. Before your donation, avoid eating fatty foods like french fries, hamburgers and ice cream. Your donation can’t be tested for infectious diseases and won’t be used for transfusion if there is too much fat in your blood. 
• Hydrate. Drink an extra 16 ounces of water before your donation.
• Remember to bring your ID. Bring your driver’s license or two other forms of ID and donor card.
• Wear short sleeves or a loose-fitting shirt. Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow.
• Relax. Chat with other donors, listen to music or read while donating.
• Refuel and rehydrate. After donating, head over to the refreshments area and grab a drink or snack. Over the next 24 hours, drink another four 8-ounce glasses of water and avoid alcohol.  

To learn more about blood donations, visit Tanner’s Health Library. To learn more about Tanner’s emergency departments, visit tanner.org/emergency.