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Each blood donation with Central Blood Bank can save up to three lives. There is no substitute for blood. Volunteer blood donors are the only source for patients in need of blood and blood products. Here are a few facts about blood and blood products.
What is Blood?
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Whole blood is comprised of three main components: red cells, plasma, and platelets
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The shelf life of each component varies:
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Red
Cells |
– |
42 days |
|
|
Platelets |
– |
5 days |
|
|
Plasma |
– |
1 year |
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White cells are the body’s primary defense against infection
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Granulocytes, a type of white blood cell, roll along blood vessel walls in search of bacteria to destroy
Blood Types
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There are four main blood types: A B, AB, and O
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Approximately 85 percent of the population is Rh positive, while 15 percent is Rh
negative
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Type O+ blood is the most common, and most frequently used, blood type
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Type O- is the universal blood donor, since most people can accept this type of
blood regardless of their blood type
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Type AB is the universal recipient, since people with this blood type can
normally accept all blood types
Did You Know?
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Only 5
percent of the national population donates blood
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If all eligible blood donors donated blood at least twice a year, Central Blood
Bank would be self-sufficient
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4.5 million Americans would die each year without lifesaving blood transfusions
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Every two seconds someone needs blood
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About three gallons of blood supports the nation’s blood needs for one minute.
Those in Need
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Car accident victims who have suffered massive blood loss can require red blood
cell transfusions of 50 pints or more
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The average bone marrow transplant requires 120 units of platelets and
approximately 20 units of red blood cells
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Severe burn victims require approximately 20 units of plasma during their
treatment
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Children being treated for cancer, premature infants, and children having heart
surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types
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Anemic patients need blood transfusions to increase their iron levels
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Cancer, transplant and trauma patients, and patients undergoing open-heart
surgery require platelet transfusions to survive
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Some patients with complications from severe sickle cell disease, an inherited
disease that affects more than 80,000 people in the United States (98 percent of
whom are of African descent), receive blood transfusions every month – up to
four units at a time
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