Why it matters
The Need
Blood cannot be manufactured. Every unit in every hospital came from a person who decided to show up.
If only one more percent of all Americans gave blood, shortages would disappear for the foreseeable future.
4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion each year.
43,000 pints of donated blood are used each day in the U.S. and Canada.
Someone needs blood every two seconds.
Only 37% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate — fewer than 10% do annually.
About one in seven people entering a hospital need blood.
One pint of blood can save up to three lives.
Three pints is the average whole blood and red blood cell transfusion.
Much of today's medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors.
Children treated for cancer, premature infants, and children having heart surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types, especially type O.
Anemic patients need transfusions to increase their red blood cell levels.
Cancer, transplant, and trauma patients, and patients undergoing open-heart surgery may require platelet transfusions to survive.
Platelets promote clotting and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.
White cells are the body's primary defense against infection.
Blood or plasma from people who have been paid for it cannot be used for human transfusion.