January is recognized as national donor blood month and Versiti is encouraging people to donate blood.

Versiti’s director of donor services Dawn Kaiser tells us this is a community problem as they need blood to meet patient demands.

“If we don’t collect in Michigan 500 plus units of blood every single day, we may not have enough for the 87 hospitals in Michigan that we service,” Kaiser says.

Hospitals and emergency services rely on regular contributions to maintain enough supplies for patients in need of surgeries, cancer treatments, and emergency care. Kaiser says that a small donation can save lives within the community, and is a powerful way to make a difference.

“You can donate blood at the age of 16 with a parental consent, 17 without, no upper age limit,” Kaiser says. “If you’re feeling well and healthy, you’re taking regular medications like for blood pressure, cholesterol, maybe anxiety, things like that, no problem. We won’t even ask you about that. Those are eligible donors.”

Anyone can visit Versiti and make an appointment to donate. You can visit Versiti’s website and choose the best time to donate and save a life.