| Blood Donors: World Blood Donor Day 2007
On June 14, World Blood Donor Day, at blood drives across the state, Michigan Community Blood Centers welcomed the opportunity to raise awareness of the need for a safe blood supply around the world, to thank and honor volunteer blood donors who sustain the local community blood supply, and to encourage people to donate blood regularly.
Sponsored by four international organizations (World Health Organization, International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies, International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations, International Society of Blood Transfusion), World Blood Donor Day has been celebrated annually since 2005 on the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, a scientist who discovered the ABO blood group system.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 80 million units of blood are donated worldwide every year, but only 38% of the total is collected in developing countries where 82% of the world’s population lives. The chance of receiving a safe transfusion varies enormously from one country to another.
In the USA, where blood donation and blood banks are strictly regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the blood supply is safer than at any previous time thanks to rigorous donor screening and extensive blood testing. About 8 million pints of blood, equaling about half the entire US blood supply, are donated by Americans every year through independent community blood banks such as Michigan Community Blood Centers.
Photo Gallery
Blood donor Ed Bakelaar felt good about giving the gift of life at a blood drive conducted by Michigan Community Blood Centers and hosted by Steelcase Inc in Grand Rapids MI on World Blood Donor Day, June 14 2007. Photo by Amy Smith.
Blood donor Geoffrey Rich (left) and Michigan Community Blood Centers Donor Services staff Nadine Christenson shared a lifesaving moment at the Metal Sales Manufacturing blood drive in Monitor, MI on World Blood Donor Day, June 14 2007. Photo by Rachelle Treymann.
Blood Donor Michael Washington (left) took time to help save lives on World Blood Donor Day, June 14 2007, at a blood drive aboard the Michigan Community Blood Centers Blood Bus, hosted by Metal Sales Manufacturing in Monitor, MI. Also pictured: Blood Center staff Nadine Christenson. Photo by Rachelle Treymann
Mark Durocher, a disc jockey at THE COAST 94.9, donated blood during a special blood drive hosted by radio station on World Blood Donor Day, June 14 2007, at Michigan Community Blood Centers in St. Joseph MI. Photo by Doug deBest.
Phil McDonald, disc jockey for THE COAST 94.9, pumped up the volume with a blood donation on World Blood Donor Day, June 14 2007, at Michigan Community Blood Centers in St. Joseph MI. THE COAST featured a live broadcast from the Blood Center to help recruit blood donors. Photo by Doug deBest.
Blood donor Sarah Dalton (left) was happy to give the gift of life at Michigan Community Blood Centers in St. Joseph MI on World Blood Donor Day, June 14 2007. Also pictured: Blood Center staff Latonia Gulledge. Photo by Doug deBest
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