Interesting Blood Donation Stats

Since 1970, National Blood Donor Month has been observed each January to educate everyone about the importance of being a blood donor and the impact blood donations can have on patients who need blood.

Interesting info about the demand for blood

• Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood.
• Across the country, blood centers are struggling to keep pace with demand. Nationwide, an average 44,000 blood donations are needed each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, and children with blood disorders. When disaster strikes, this need may be even greater.
• A single blood donation can help save more than one life.
• Type O-negative blood is the universal blood type. This means type O negative blood can be transfused to anyone who needs blood, regardless of their own blood type.
• Type O blood is used during emergencies, when there is no time to determine the patient’s blood type. That’s why it’s especially important that people with type O blood donate as frequently as they can.

Interesting info about the American Red Cross

The Red Cross collects and processes more than 40% of the nation’s blood supply which is approximately 6 million units of blood each year from nearly 4 million volunteer blood donors.

These units are then manufactured into about 9 million transfusable blood products for patients at approximately 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.

This work is accomplished through the organization’s national network, comprised of 7 divisions and 36 blood regions.

The American Red Cross needs to collect 22,000 units of blood each weekday to meet patient needs. In addition, we must collect about 15,000 units each weekend.

Anyone interested in donating blood should call 1-800-RED CROSS or click here to schedule an appointment or for more information.