Giving Back: Niki Taylor and World Blood Donor Day
CAUSE: One pint of blood can save up to three lives, and blood donations certainly saved the life of former CoverGirl model Niki Taylor. Six million people will need a blood transfusion just this year, and hospitals are most at need in the summertime. World Blood Donor Day promotes voluntary blood donations and honors donors.
**EFFECT: ** Each year, six million people are in need of a blood transfusion. Each day, 44,000 donations are needed. One donation can save more than one life.
GET INVOLVED: Find an American Red Cross location or your nearest blood center to donate.
1/6To raise awareness about World Blood Donor Day on June 14, the supermodel has teamed up with Nexcare to promote a line of fashion-inspired bandages.
Photo: Nexcare Brand2/6"In 2001, I was in a car accident and I needed over 100 units of blood. The American Red Cross supplied my hospital in Atlanta with the blood, so I owe my life to blood donors. For World Blood Donor Day, Nexcare Bandages and the American Red Cross have teamed up to encourage people to roll up their sleeves and donate. They've designed fun bandages—the theme is "Giving Blood is Timeless." The bandages represent past fashion trends: polka dots for the fifties, tie-dye for the sixties, a lava lamp for the seventies, a Rubik's Cube for the eighties, grunge yellow plaid for the nineties, and a digital print for the millennium."
Photo: Nexcare Brand3/6"The whole process of giving blood is very easy. The technicians are very gentle and caring. It's a little pinch, and they give you cookies, juice, and water afterwards. It takes approximately thirty minutes. There's no need to be scared! I'm going with my seventeen-year-old boys to donate on Thursday."
Photo: Nexcare Brand4/6"Summer months are when there are shortages because people's schedules are busy and they're not thinking about it; that's why World Blood Donor Day is in June. We've got blood—we should give it! One donation saves more than one life. These bandages are badges of honor."
Photo: Nexcare Brand5/6"Our parents donated blood, their parents donated blood—it was just a thing that they did. Now people don't think about it until they need a blood transfusion, chemotherapy, or are in a car accident like myself. If you know anyone who's had cancer, you know that they will eventually need a blood transfusion. Six million people will need a blood transfusion just this year, and each day, 44,000 donations are needed."
Photo: Nexcare Brand6/6"You can go to NexcareGive.com to pledge your support for blood donation, sign up for more bandages, and find local blood centers that are participating in the program. Some states have restrictions on age and weight, and the website has all that information too. Giving blood is one of the most selfless things that you can do. Every two seconds, someone needs blood."
