The Dallas County Health Department is encouraging anyone able to give blood during National Blood Donor Awareness Month to do so.  

Health Navigation Coordinator Ann Cochran says January is a time to recognize how important the life saving act of donating blood is. She explains that the county’s blood supply is usually in decline in January. 

“A lot of that happens every year around the holiday season, people are busy with so many other activities that it doesn’t occur to them to go ahead and donate, which is ironic because there’s a lot of accidents around (the) New Year (holiday).”

Cochran notes that it is extremely safe to give blood with donation centers taking extra steps to sterilize needles which prevents infections. Cochran adds those who have a fear of needles or blood can ask the staff to use the many techniques they have to hide the blood and needle. She says a good place to donate blood in the area is setting up an appointment with the LifeServe Blood Center.