Did you know that June 14th is World Blood Donor Day? The idea of giving blood tends to give people an uneasy sensation. We get it and it’s a natural feeling.

However, the importance of blood donations is so vast that we won’t be able to fully explain it all within this blog post. According to the American Red Cross, every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion due to illness, to treat an injury, or during surgery. We’ve heard it before: a single blood donation from one donor can save up to three lives. Three!

As much as science fiction would like us to believe, there’s no artificial substitute for blood, so only humans can help humans in our reality.

And if it only takes an hour to donate blood, the question is why aren’t you considering donating today? Below is a list of where you can go within New Jersey to help save lives.

AMERICAN RED CROSS

This summer, the Red Cross is focusing on filling the missing blood types. The letters A, B and O make up our main blood groups. According to them, only 3 out of 100 Americans donate blood. You can change that by joining the Missing Types movement and fill in the missing blood types. Not only are you helping patients that are fighting life-threatening conditions, but also kids battling cancer and accident victims.

Go to their website to find a donation site near you and also learn if you’re eligible to donate!

CENTRAL JERSEY BLOOD CENTER

Central Jersey Blood Center (CJBC) is a community-based, non-profit blood collection and distribution organization that has been serving NJ for nearly 50 years. Their mission is to provide safe, high-quality blood products and services to their patients.

Learn about how and where you can donate on their website, as well as some FAQs about blood donations!

NEW YORK BLOOD CENTER

Don’t be deceived by the name, they service both New Jersey and New York. They’ve been around for over 50 years and are one of the largest independent, community-based, nonprofit blood centers in the United States.

Check their website to find a location near you and to read more about NYBC.

So whether you donate platelets, plasma, red blood cells, or whole blood, you get to say you saved someone’s life!

Feel free to share this infographic to your social medias!