January is Blood Donor Month, and the event is being observed by both Vanderbilt Health’s Blood Bank and by Blood Assurance, the primary supplier of blood and blood products to Vanderbilt.
Jennifer Andrews, MD, MSc, the medical director of the Blood Bank and professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology and Pediatrics, noted that Blood Assurance guarantees that blood donated at Vanderbilt blood drives will be used for patients at Vanderbilt. It is also possible for donors at any Middle Tennessee Blood Assurance drive to designate the donated blood for VUMC.
“As the only Level 1 trauma center, we need a constant supply of blood to take care of our patients,” she said. “Blood donation is vital to many of our critical missions at Vanderbilt Health, including solid organ transplantation, cancer treatments, and mothers who have unexpected hemorrhages while delivering babies.”
During January, donors at Blood Assurance drives receive a special gift of a blanket.
To see a list of upcoming drives at Vanderbilt Health locations, click here.