How to Donate Blood

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How to Give Blood - 27 Blood Facts

 

1. Someone needs blood every two seconds.

2. About 1 in 5 people entering a hospital needs blood.

3. Three: the numbers of lives saved by one unit of donated blood.

4. Blood makes up about 7 percent of your body’s weight.

5. Blood fights Infection and help heals wounds.

6. Four main blood types: A, B, AB and O. AB is the universal

recipient; O negative is the universal donor.

7. Shortages of all blood types happen during the summer and winter

holidays.

8. Blood centers often run short of types O and B blood.

9. If all blood donors gave 2 to 4 times a year, it would help prevent

blood shortages.

10. Four steps to donate blood: medical history, quick physical,

donation and snacks.

11. The actual blood donation usually takes less than 10 minutes. The

entire process†" from the time you sign in to the time to leave.

12. Giving blood will not decrease your strength.

13. You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood.

14. Twelve tests (9 for infectious diseases) are performed on each

unit of donated blood.

15. Any company, community organization, place of worship or

individual may contact their local community blood center to host a

blood drive.

16. People donate blood out of a sense of duty and community spirit,

not to make money. They are not for their donation.

17. One unit of blood can be separated into several components: red

blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets.

18. Platelets support blood clotting and give those with leukemia and

other cancers a chance to live.

19. Healthy bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells, plasma

and platelets.

20. Bone marrow transplant patients need platelet donations from about

120 people and red cells from about 20 people.

21. Children being treated for cancer, premature infants and children

having heart surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types.

22. Anemic patients need blood transfusions to increase their iron levels.

23. Females receive 53 percent of blood transfusions; males receive 47

percent.

24. 60 percent of the Indian population is eligible to donate

blood†" only 5 percent do.

25. After donating blood, you replace these red cells within four

weeks. It takes eight weeks to restore the iron lost after donating.

26. There is no substitute for human blood.

27. Blood donation. It’s about half n hour of your time. It’s About Life.