Blood Donor Basics
Your health is important to us, and we want to help you maintain it.
Why Blood Is Needed
The reason to donate is simple…it helps save lives. In fact, every two seconds of every day, someone needs blood. Since blood cannot be manufactured outside the body and has a limited shelf life, the supply must constantly be replenished by generous blood donors.
Blood donors play a vital role in the healthcare of patients in your community. 37% of the population is eligible to donate blood, yet only 5% actually do. With every blood donation, you are providing strength, hope and courage to patients and their families in your local hospitals. View more reasons to donate here
Why Blood Is Needed
There are many reasons patients need blood. A common misunderstanding about blood usage is that accident victims are the patients who use the most blood. Actually, people needing the most blood include those:
- Being treated for cancer
- Undergoing orthopedic surgeries
- Undergoing cardiovascular surgeries
- Being treated for inherited blood disorders
In fact, according to a 2011 survey by the Department of Health and Human Services, here is the actual breakdown of how blood is used in the U.S.
