Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood.
Blood donations help people of all ages — including trauma and burn patients, those battling cancer, chronic diseases or severe infections, and heart surgery and organ transplant patients. Blood and platelet donations are critically needed to help prevent delays in vital medical treatments for these individuals.
The American Red Cross provides about 40% of our nation’s blood and blood components, yet continues to face a national blood shortage, as only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly.
What if there wasn’t enough blood available when you or your loved one needed it?
Blood cannot be stockpiled; it can only be stored for about 42 days (and the shelf life for platelets in a blood bank is commonly only a few days), so the supply needs to be constantly replenished.
Donating blood is one of the easiest, most rewarding ways to give back. Your donation could make the difference between life and death for someone else. One person’s donation could save three lives in the hospital. Three teaspoons of blood could save a baby’s life.
Donating blood also has some benefits for the donor as well.
First, you get a mini check-up before you give, including having your temperature, blood pressure and pulse taken. If there’s a problem with your blood, you’ll find out, which could alert you to potential health problems.
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