Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood.
The blood used in an emergency situation is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
Only 5 percent of eligible donors across the nation donate blood, but the number of transfusions nationwide increases by 9 percent every year.
Each whole blood donation can help as many as three people. One unit is divided into three parts: red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
16 million blood donations are collected annually in the United States from 9.5 million donors.
Blood cannot be manufactured. It can only come as a gift from people.
The need for blood increases during holidays (like in November and December) and summer months. People are more apt to be traveling and active during these times and thus are at an increased risk for accidents.
Statistics show that 25 percent or more of us will require blood at least once in our lifetime.
5 million Americans would die each year without life saving blood transfusions.
Approximately 44,000 pints of blood are used each day in the United States.
The average adult has 10 pints of blood in his or her body, and the average donation is roughly one pint.
Blood makes up about 7% of your body's weight.
A newborn baby has about one cup of blood in his or her body.
Blood fights against infection and helps heal wounds, keeping you healthy. All donated blood is tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and other infectious diseases before being released to hospitals.
There are four main blood types: A, B, AB and O. AB is the universal recipient and O negative is the universal donor. Blood centers often run short of type O and B blood.
A healthy donor may donate red blood cells or whole blood every 56 days, which means that an individual can donate up to 6 times per year .
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.
About three gallons of blood supports the entire nation's blood needs for one minute.
Only 38% of the US population is eligible to donate, but only 5% of the eligible population does so on a yearly basis.
