|
The following facts were provided courtesy of America’s Blood Center.
|
Blood is composed of plasma, water and cellular components (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets).
|
|
|
One in 20 Americans will require a blood transfusion at some point in their lives.
|
|
|
Each year approximately 8 million volunteer donors give about 14 million blood donations.
|
|
|
About 12 million units of red blood cells and whole blood, 8 million platelet units and 3 million plasma units are transfused annually.
|
|
|
More than 90 percent of transfusion complications have been attributed to the presence of leukocytes in allogeneic blood.
|
|
|
Every three seconds someone needs blood. Blood and blood products are used to treat accident and burn victims, cancer patients and other patients undergoing surgeries and medical treatments.
|
|
|
People older than 65 use 43 percent of all donated blood. The demand for blood will increase as the population ages.
|
|
|
Approximately 40,000 units of blood are used each day in the United States.
|
|
|
One unit of blood is roughly the equivalent of one pint. On average an adult has approximately seven to nine units of blood.
|
|
|
Blood centers often run short of type O and B blood. Shortages of all types of blood occur during the summer and winter holidays.
|
|
|
Red blood cells can be stored for up to 42 days.
|
|
|
Platelets can be stored for only five days.
|
|
|
Frozen plasma can be stored for as long as one year.
|
|
|
Each year, approximately 14 million units of blood are donated by volunteers. These donations are processed into about 27 million blood components, which are transfused into approximately 4 million patients a year.
|
|
|
Because blood donations often are separated into several “components” (red blood cells, plasma and platelets, for instance), one donation can help save three lives.
|
|
|
A 1996 Government Accounting Office Report stated that the blood supply in America has never been safer. Blood Banks are committed to the industry’s highest standards of safety and are required to be licensed by the FDA.
|
| Frequency of Blood Types |
| O+ | 1 person in 3 |
| O- | 1 person in 15 |
| A+ | 1 person in 3 |
| A- | 1 person in 16 |
| B+ | 1 person in 12 |
| B- | 1 person in 67 |
| AB+ | 1 person in 29 |
| AB- | 1 person in 167 |
|
|
Those belonging to the O- blood group are called universal blood donors. The red blood cells of a universal blood donor may be transfused to anyone regardless of their blood type. |
|
|
The plasma of those belonging to the AB blood group may be transfused to anyone regardless of their blood type.
|
| Examples Of Blood Use |
Average # Of Units Required |
| 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
20 bags of cryoprecipitate
25 units of fresh frozen plasma
|
| Bone Marrow Transplant
|
120 units of platelets
20 units of blood
|
| Burn
|
20 units of platelets
|
*All statistics are based on U.S. numbers.
|
