I never thought I’d be on the receiving end of a blood donation. It’s not something anyone expects. But if I had a glimpse into the future and saw myself lose a massive amount of blood due to postpartum complications, I’m sure I would have been a more frequent blood donor over the years.

After receiving the lifesaving gift of donated blood, I’m forever grateful to all those who take the time to give.

January is National Blood Donor Month and what better way to kick off a new year than to start a new selfless giving habit. Become a blood donor. This can be the year that you stick to your New Year’s resolution because it really makes a difference. It’s not about you. It’s about giving the gift of life to someone who is sick or badly injured.

I know many of us have good intentions when it comes to donating blood. It’s something we want to do, but we don’t always follow through because it feels like another commitment to add to our already overflowing plate.

Each whole blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives and it takes only about 10-15 minutes. I know I can find time in my schedule for that, especially if I remind myself of the lifesaving results. Can you?

Becoming A Blood Donor Has Health Benefits for You Too!*

If saving lives isn’t motivation enough, hopefully these benefits to the donor will help convince you to make an appointment at your local blood donation center today:

Giving blood reduces your risk of heart attack.
You receive a free wellness checkup each time you donate including blood pressure, pulse, temperature and iron count checks as well as a cholesterol screening.
If you have too much iron in your blood, donating blood can keep your iron level balanced.

While I’m still recovering from my postpartum hemorrhage, I plan to make donating blood a part of my routine once I’m able to do so. I want to make sure others have the opportunity to receive the same precious gift of life I was given.

To find your neighborhood donation center or get more information about donating, visit OneBlood.org.

*Source: OneBlood.org