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Some Facts about Blood: - The American Red Cross supplies about one-half of all the blood products used in the country.
- Red Blood cells can be stored for 42 days and platelets for only 5 days.
- All donated blood goes though testing for numerous diseases.
- Type O Positive is the most common blood type. Type AB Negative is the lease common type.
- Type O negative blood can be transfused to 100% of people.
- Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. receives a blood transfusion.
- The average transfusion is 3.4 pints of blood.
- The average adult body had 10-12 units of blood.
- You can safely donate blood every 56 days.
- There is no upper age limit for giving blood, however, you must be at least 17 years of age.
- There is no substitute for human blood.
- A whole blood donation is broken down into three components, making it possible to help up to three different people with one donation.
- The need for blood is constant.
- The need for blood can be greater during the summer months and around holidays.
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The Piedmont Carolina Chapter is part of the Carolinas Blood Services Region.
The Carolinas Blood Services Region serves 102 hospitals and covers 4 states: North Carolina, and parts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. The region aims to collect 1,500 units of blood each day in order to assist in the care of patients. Annually, the Carolinas Region collects more than 350,000 units of blood, and is the leading Red Cross collection region in the nation.
Blood is used for cancer patients, elective or emergency surgery, premature babies and accident victims. It is estimated that 95% of people in the U.S. will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives, while only 5% of those eligible will actually donate.
Blood collected at drives in the community is commonly called whole blood. Whole blood can be broken down into its three main components: red cells, platelets and plasma.
The Piedmont Carolina Chapter works with the Carolinas Region to organize, schedule, and support blood drives. The Chapter recruits donors and blood drive sponsors, promotes blood drives and the donation process, provides logistical support and provides training and management for volunteers.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in general good health. Donors will answer general questions each time they donate to ensure a safe blood supply. Then each donor is given a free mini-physical, which includes a check on blood pressure, temperature and iron level. |
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