If just 1 percent more of Americans donated blood, shortages would disappear.
About 37% of Americans are eligible to donate blood, but only 3-4% do so each year.
One single blood donation can save up to 3 lives!
Every day in the U.S., 29,000 units of red blood cells are required by hospitals and emergency treatment facilities.
One of seven people entering the hospital will need donated blood.
Donating blood burns over 600 calories.
Every time you donate blood, you get a mini physical for free!
Type O negative blood can be given to patients of all blood types making it extra life-saving!
Children being treated for cancer and premature infants especially need type O blood.
During one of Kim’s life-saving surgeries, she was given type O negative blood as there were no pints of her blood type available.
Hospitals can only receive blood from volunteer (not paid) donors.
Recently, blood banks have been as low as a one day blood supply of type O blood.
More than 4.5 million patients would die each year in the U.S. and Canada if not for life saving blood transfusions.
A single car accident victim can require up to 100 pints of blood.
Many cancer patients require blood transfusions to combat potentially fatal anemia caused by numerous chemotherapy treatments.
More than 75% of Americans who reach the age of 72 will need a blood transfusion at some point in their life.
A patient needing an organ transplant may be forced to pass up a lifesaving surgery if compatible blood is not available to support the transplant.
Donated blood must be used within 42 days.
Donated plasma can be stored and used for one year.
Blood drives hosted by companies, schools, and places of worship account for roughly half of the blood supply in the Midwest.
Whole blood can be donated every 56 days, plasma every 28 days, platelets every 14 days, and double red cell donations every 112 days.
During the final months of Kim’s treatments, she was receiving platelet transfusions almost daily.
Blood shortages most occur during summer and winter holidays.
There are numerous health benefits to donating blood, including: anti-cancer benefits, weight loss, stimulation of new blood cells, and improved liver and heart function!
Here is additional information about blood donation courtesy of Versiti!
