Please give blood. Your donation makes all the difference to those in need. The need for blood is constant. Are you 17? You're old enough to be a hero. Think about it - if a friend of yours needed blood in an emergency, you would give blood in a minute, right? The need is real.
Only 5% of our population donates blood.
Do you know these facts?
- Volunteer blood donors are the only source of blood products for hospital patients.
- Approximately 20% of the blood used in the U.S. is donated by students.
- 1 blood donor could save as many as 3 lives with a single donation.
- Each unit of blood is divided into its component parts-platelets, plasma and red cells.
- All donated blood is tested for infectious diseases.
- You cannot contract HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, or any other infectious disease by donating blood.
- 4 million people need blood every year. That's one patient every 12 seconds.
- In Michigan, hospitals use about 2,000 units of blood DAILY...that's about 1-unit every 43-seconds.
- The average blood transfusion is 3.4 units (pints) of blood.
- The average adult has 10-12 units of blood. A newborn baby has one CUP.
- People are eligible to donate blood every 8 weeks (56 days).
- 97% of the population will have received a blood transfusion by the age of 75, yet only 5% of the population donates.
- 22% of patients are over the age of 65. They use 52% of blood transfused.
- Patients who suffer from sickle cell anemia, cancer, heart disease, leukemia or other major illnesses may need blood transfusions to survive.
- Healthy donors must be at least 17 years old, and weigh at least 110 pounds.
- Click here for more fun facts and to see our Milestone Achieving Donors!
What Do We Ask of Donors?
- Identification - Donor card or drivers license, also need a social security number.
- Age - Donor must be at least 17 years old.
- Weight - Donor must weight at least 110 pounds wearing clothes and shoes.
- Good Health - see donor suitability information.
- Medications - Know the exact names that you are currently taking or have taken in the last month.
How Do I Schedule a Blood Drive?
For information on scheduling a blood drive at your organization in Jackson, please contact Shelia Drewry, Donor Recruitment Representative of the Great Lakes Blood Region at 517-420-3671 or email her at DrewrySL@usa.redcross.org
For information on scheduling a blood drive at your organization in Hillsdale County, please contact Alisa Risner at 517-416-3377 or risnerak@usa.redcross.org
Or visit www.redcrossmichigan.org for information on blood donations or blood drive sponsorhip.
How do I Volunteer for Blood Drives?
Contact Larry Lloyd at 517-782-9486 or
llloyd@redcross-scmichigan.org to find out how
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