Around the world, June 14th is recognized as the blood donor day. The American Red Cross estimates that about 6.8 million people in the United States alone donate blood each year. However, there is an ongoing need for continuous blood donations to help people with illnesses and injuries. Here is some information about blood donations and how they can help our communities.
Facts about donating blood from the American Red Cross:
- In the United States, every two seconds a person is in need of donated blood.
- As an adult, one has about 10 pints of blood. And donation of blood takes about 1 pint of blood.
- Up to 100 pints of blood can be needed for someone who has been in a car accident.
Are their different types of blood donations? Yes, depending on your blood type and the type of donation, there are different parts of your blood that can be taken. The four major types of blood donations are whole blood, power red, platelet and plasma donations.
Why is donating blood important? Blood is not something that can be made by man or a machine. It is something that we have to get from each other (donors). And there are many people in need of blood or platelet donations in order to survive. Also, unfortunately not everyone is eligible to donate blood, and this limits the pool of donators.
Who does blood donations help? Blood can help patients who are going through surgeries, traumatic injuries or are dealing with cancer or a chronic illness. Blood donations can help people of all ages.
Next, we will take a look at the donation process and how to be a successful donor!
Information was sourced from the American Red Cross. Check out their website for more information: https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/how-blood-donations-help/blood-needs-blood-supply.html
