-
Anyone in good health, at least 17 years old, and at least 110 pounds may donate blood every 56 days.
-
Someone needs blood every three seconds.
-
One out of ten hospital patients needs blood.
-
Three: the number of lives saved by one pint of donated blood.
-
Ten pints: amount of blood in the body of an average adult.
-
A newborn baby has about one cup of blood in his body.
-
Blood fights infection and helps heal wounds.
-
Four main blood types: A, B, AB and O. AB is the universal recipient,
O negative is the universal donor.
-
Blood centers often run short of types O and B blood. Shortages of all blood types happen during the summer and winter holidays.
-
48 gallons: amount of blood you could donate if you begin at age 17 and donate every 56 days until you reach 76 years old.
-
The actual blood donation usually takes less than ten minutes. The entire process -- from the time you sign in to the time you leave -- takes about an hour.
-
Giving blood will not decrease your strength.
-
You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood.
-
14 tests (11 for infectious diseases) are performed on each unit of donated blood.
-
42 days: the shelf life of donated red blood cells.
-
Five days: the shelf life of donated platelets.
-
One year: the shelf life of frozen plasma.
-
60% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood -- only 5% do.
-
17% of non-donors cite "never thought about it" as the main reason for not giving, while 15% say they're too busy.
-
After donating blood, you replace these red blood cells within four weeks.
-
It takes eight weeks to restore the iron lost after donating.
-
White cells are the body's primary defense against infection.
-
The #1 reason donors say they give is because they "want to help others."
-
The #1 reason people say they don't give is because "no one asked me."
-
We're asking. Please give blood.