The importance of knowing your blood type is to prevent the risk of receiving an incompatible blood type if a transfusion is needed. If the wrong blood types are mixed, it can lead to a clumping of blood cells that can be potentially fatal. A blood transfusion can be needed for many reasons, including: surgeries, cancer treatment, traumatic injuries, delivery difficulties during labor, and anemia.
Latest studies have shown that someone in the US needs a blood transfusion every 2 seconds each day in the United States. The average person can only donate 1 pint of whole blood in a single donation and the shelf life is only 21 to 35 days, which is why the need to keep replenishing the supply to meet demand is great. Only 38% of the population in the United States are eligible to donate blood, but only 3% donate.