MIDDLETOWN, Connecticut — January is National Blood Donor Month by design and local leaders were on hand to amplify their message at the Connecticut Blood Center in Middletown.
This time of year, blood centers can struggle to get donors to come out said Nicole Pinault, the executive director of blood operations at the Connecticut Blood Center.
"We are coming off the holidays, people are traveling, there are illnesses, and bad weather so all of that combined can put a strain on the blood supply," Pineault said.
From healthcare professionals to state leaders, one by one, they took to the podium at the Connecticut Blood Center to stress the importance of blood donation.
“There is no substitute for blood, we rely on our blood donors, and you can’t make it in a lab," Dr. Bradford Sherburne, the medical director of laboratories at both Hartford Hospital and Backus Hospital said. "Every 56 days you can do it (donate blood) because your body is always making red cells, platelets and always making plasma, it will benefit so many people.”
Pineault added that getting their message out just after the new year is key to having more success down the road.
“My message is don’t wait,” she said." Not everybody is destined to be an everyday hero, but blood donation provides an opportunity for you to do that – to really impact patients and the people that love them.”
The Connecticut Blood Center makes it easy to donate, to learn more click here.
Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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