This month is National Blood Donor Month, and blood donor groups are making sure people know the importance of giving blood. Blood can't be manufactured, so people need to donate blood at their local blood bank. Nearly 400 people a day donate blood to the American Red Cross in the D-M-V metro area. Bethany Bray Patterson with the American Red Cross says donor blood is used in a variety of medical situations.

"Donated blood goes to people who are heading into surgery, fighting cancer, newborn babies in the NICU and people who are living with sickle cell disease and other chronic illnesses."

Patterson adds someone in the U-S needs a life-saving blood transfusion every two seconds.

However, only three percent of eligible donors donate each year. According to America’s Blood Centers, if just one percent more Americans donated, blood shortages would be alleviated. Patterson says the blood supply in the country is stable, but organizations like the Red Cross are also on the look out for universal donors.

"There is an increased need right now for 'type O' blood donation and platelet donations. Type O blood is always in demand. It’s often going out to hospitals faster than it’s coming in through blood donation, because it is the universal blood type. It’s used the most by hospitals."

You can find blood donation locations and schedule an appointment at redcrossblood.org