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Blood Facts
Blood Donation Facts
- An adult of average weight has about 10 to 12 units of blood.
- Sixty percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, however, only five percent do.
- More than 10 tests, most of which are for infectious diseases, are performed on each unit of donated blood.
- Just one unit of donated blood can help save the lives of up to three people.
- One unit of blood can be separated into several components (Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, Plasma, Platelets and Cryoprecipitate).
- Platelets help blood to clot and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
- Red Blood Cells must be used within 42 days.
- Platelets must be used within five days.
- Plasma can be frozen and used for up to one year.
- Some anemic patients require blood transfusions to increase their iron levels.
- Plasma helps maintain blood pressure, carries blood cells, nutrients, enzymes, and hormones, and supplies critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity.
- White Blood Cells are the body’s primary defense against infection.
- There is no substitute for human blood.
- Volunteers provide nearly all of the nation’s blood supply for transfusion.
- Approximately every three seconds someone needs blood.
- Approximately 38,000 units of blood are used each day in the United States.
- Blood centers often run short of type O and B blood.
- Shortages of all types of blood often occur during the summer and winter holidays.
- If all eligible blood donors gave at least twice a year, it would greatly help in maintaining an adequate blood supply for our country.
- If you are at least 17 years old, and weigh at least 110 pounds you may be eligible to donate blood every 56 days.
- The actual blood collection takes approximately 10-20 minutes. The entire process, from when you sign in to the time you leave, takes about 45 minutes to one hour.
- Any company, community organization, place of worship, or individual may contact their local blood centers to host blood drives.
- Apheresis is a special kind of blood donation that allows a donor to give specific blood components, such as Platelets.
- You cannot get AIDS or any other blood disease by donating blood.
- If you began donating blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached 76, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood.
Did you know?
- One out of ten East Texas patients use blood products.
- In the year 2000, hospitals in East Texas used 150 units of blood each day.
- A heart surgery, on average, uses anywhere from 5 to 50 units of blood.
- Liver transplant patients use 10 to 50 units of blood.
- A trauma victim uses 0 to 100 units of blood.
- A cancer patient uses 0 to 100 units of blood.
Ways YOU Can Help!
- Set up a Blood Drive sponsored by your company, church, or organization.
- If a family member or friend needs blood or is using blood, set up a Blood Drive in his or her name to help replenish the blood supply.
- You may also become a volunteer community donor and your blood will go to the community blood bank to be used by patients in area hospitals.
Our Mission
“To Provide a safe and sufficient blood supply to the community”
(800) 252-5584
815 South Baxter Avenue, Tyler, Texas 75701
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