Facts about Blood and Blood Donation

Approximately 300 units of blood are needed every day in the eight counties served by Miller-Keystone Blood Center.. Approximately 32,000 units of blood are used each day in the United States. 

The gift of blood is the gift of life. There is no substitute for human blood.

Much of today's medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors. People donate blood out of a sense of duty and community spirit, not to make money. Each year, approximately 14 million units of blood are donated by volunteers. These donations are processed into about 27 million blood components, which are transfused into approximately 4 million patients a year.

America's independent community blood centers collect, test, process and deliver about half (45%) of the U.S. blood supply to hospitals nationwide. Corporate blood drives are a vital source of volunteer blood donations. Corporations sponsor blood drives as a service to their communities and employees.

One out of every 10 people entering a hospital needs blood. Every three seconds someone needs blood, and approximately every 10 seconds, someone in the United States is receiving a blood transfusion. Approximately 3 gallons of blood supports the entire nation's blood needs for one minute.

60% of the US population is eligible to donate - only 5% do on a yearly basis. People older than 65 use 43 percent of all donated blood. The demand for blood will increase as the population ages.

There are four main blood types: A, B, AB and O.

Blood centers often run short of type O and B blood, and shortages of all types of blood occur during the summer and winter holidays. If all blood donors gave at least twice a year, it would help prevent blood shortages. Anyone who is in good health, is at least 17 years old, and weighs at least 110 pounds may donate whole blood every 56 days. Plasma can be donated every four weeks, and platelets 24 times a year.

Blood is safer today than it has ever been before. Blood centers follow five layers of safety procedures blood donor eligibility standards, individual screening, laboratory testing, confidential exclusion of donations, and donor record checks. Blood centers also work closely with government agencies and other entities to enhance blood donor screening practices, increase disease testing, improve computer tracking systems, and ensure good manufacturing practices. You cannot get AIDS or any other blood disease by donating blood. Approximately 16 tests are performed on every unit of donated blood, many of which are for infectious diseases, including hepatitis (a liver infection); HIV (the virus that causes AIDS); HTLV-I (a virus associated with a rare form of leukemia) and HTLV-II; syphilis and WNV (West Nile Virus).

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease that affects more than 80,000 people in the United States, 98 percent of whom are of African descent. Some patients with complications from severe sickle cell disease receive blood transfusions every month.

One blood donation can save as many as three lives. One unit of blood can be separated into several components, including red blood cells, plasma and platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissue. Plasma is a pale yellow mixture of water, salts and proteins, including solvable clotting factors; plasma is 90 percent water and constitutes 55 percent of blood volume. Platelets are small blood cells that initiate blood clotting, controlling bleeding.

Every three seconds, someone needs blood. Blood fights against infection and helps heal wounds, keeping you healthy. Anemic patients need blood transfusions to increase their iron levels. Cancer, transplant and trauma patients and patients undergoing open-heart surgery require platelet transfusions to survive. People who have been in car accidents and suffered massive blood loss can need transfusions of 50 units or more of red blood cells.

The average bone marrow transplant requires 120 units of platelets and about 20 units of red blood cells. Severe burn victims can need 20 units of platelets during their treatment. Children being treated for cancer, premature infants, and children having heart surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types.

Apheresis (ay-fur-ee-sis) is a special kind of blood donation that allows a donor to give specific blood components, such as platelets. Platelets must be used within five days of collection, hence blood donations are especially needed around 3-day weekends. Red blood cells must be used within 42 days. Plasma can be frozen and used for up to a year.

Blood makes up about 7 percent of your body's weight, and the average adult has 10 pints of blood in his or her body. Since a pint is pound, you lose a pound every time you donate blood.

• Those belonging to the O- blood group are called universal blood donors. The red blood cells of a universal blood donor may be transfused to anyone regardless of their blood type.

• The plasma of those belonging to the AB blood group may be transfused to anyone regardless of blood type.