Twice each year, JPL employees had the opportunity to donate blood at the JPL Red Cross Blood Bank. Donated blood was not only for emergency use by employees and their immediate families, but was used mostly to replenish supplies depleted by heavy demands from the Korean War zone and veterans hospitals. Over 12% of employees participated in this successful blood drive, which was widely publicized on-Lab before and after the event.

Although medical equipment has changed, the blood drive tradition continues at JPL today. One notable difference in social standards from 1952 to today is the covering of legs for modesty.

For more information about the history of JPL, contact the JPL Archives.