One of my many passions is blood donation. Unfortunately, I cannot donate blood anymore in the States (I had gotten malaria in Tanzania a few years ago, and I keep going to developing countries). BUT (most of) YOU CAN!
Here are the facts straight from them American Red Cross Website:
Facts About Blood Needs
* Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
* More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day.
* A total of 30 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.
* The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 pints.
* The blood type most often requested by hospitals is Type O.
* The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
* Sickle cell disease affects more than 80,000 people in the U.S., 98 percent of whom are African American. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives.
* More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
* A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.
Facts About Blood Supply
* The number of blood donations collected in the U.S. in a year: 16 million.
* The number of blood donors in the U.S. in a year: 9.5 million.
* The number of patients who receive blood in the U.S. in a year: 5 million.
* Share of the U.S. population eligible to give blood: Less than 38 percent.
* Blood cannot be manufactured – it can only come from generous donors.
* Type O-negative blood can be transfused to patients of all blood types. It is always in great demand and often in short supply
* Type AB-positive plasma can be transfused to patients of all other blood types. AB plasma is also usually in short supply.
To find a location near you to donate visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/our-regions
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