The theme of the 2012 World Blood Donor Day campaign, 'Every blood donor is a hero,' focuses on the idea that every person can become a hero simply by giving blood. The World Health Organization aims for all countries worldwide to obtain their blood supplies entirely from unpaid donors by 2020. While in 62 countries national blood supplies are entirely based upon voluntary unpaid donations, in 40 other countries the demand greatly exceeds the supply, and patients must rely on family donors or even paid donors. Blood services must not only make sufficient blood available, but also ensure its quality and safety. The donation of blood and blood products saves millions of lives every year, by helping increase life expectancy and the quality of life for patients suffering from life-threatening conditions, and by supporting complex medical and surgical procedures. Every year on June 14, countries worldwide celebrate World Blood Donor Day with events to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gift.
