Blood Donation

Memorial Blood Centers states that, “if only 1 more percent of all Americans

gave blood, blood shortages

would disappear for

the foreseeable future.”

Main Points of Focus

1. Why is blood needed?

2. What are blood donations used for?

3. What are the types of blood donation?

4. How can I donate?

Why is Blood Needed?It saves lives.

Uses for Donated Blood• Open-heart surgery• Newborns, premature

babies• Trauma• Anemia• Surgery• Cancer patients

(chemotherapy)• Transfusions• Burns• Hemophilia• Organ transplants• Sickle cell anemia• Etc.

Average Amounts of Blood Used for:

• Automobile accident– 50 units of blood

• Heart surgery– 6 units of blood– 6 units of platelets

• Organ transplant– 40 units of blood– 30 units of platelets– 25 units of plasma

• Bone marrow transplant– 20 units of blood– 120 units of platelets

• Burn victim– 20 units of platelets

Memorial Blood Centers data

Types of Blood DonationThree most common:

1. Whole blood (all components)– Usually takes less than 10

minutes– 1 pint

2. Red blood– Takes approximately 30

minutes– 2 times the amount of red

blood cells from a normal donation

3. Platelets– Takes approximately 2

hours– 5 to 8 times the amount

of platelets from a whole blood donation

Blood types and needfrom The American Red Cross

Blood Type

% in US

% of US Population You

Can Receive Red Blood Cells From

O+ 38% 45%

O- 7% 7%

A+ 34% 85%

A- 6% 13%

B+ 9% 56%

B- 2% 9%

AB+ 3% 100%

AB- 1% 16%

How to Donate

• 1-888-GIVEBLD (1-888-448-3253)

• www.memorialbloodcenters.org

• 1-800-GIVELIFE (1-800-448-3543)

• www.givelife.org