ATLANTA – Join fellow Americans in recognizing March as Red Cross Month. Since 1943, every president of the United States has proclaimed March as "American Red Cross Month" to recognize the humanitarian accomplishments of the Red Cross organization.

Every year thousands of people receive life-saving blood transfusions as a result of the blood collected by the American Red Cross from volunteer donors across the country. You can help make a difference in the lives of area patients by donating blood as soon as possible in honor of Red Cross Month.

Each person who presents to donate at a Red Cross drive in March may enter a drawing to win one of two pairs of Delta Air Lines domestic tickets. Saving lives by donating blood or platelets is a wonderful feeling, and now just by taking the time to give the “Gift of Life,” two lucky donors could be on their way to a vacation in the sun.

The Red Cross Southern Blood Services Region provides life-saving blood to more than 120 hospitals and must have 1,200 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand.  Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive life-saving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Platelets can be given safely every two weeks, up to 24 times a year. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets.  

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate at this drive, please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (448-3543) or visit www.redcrossblood.org.