Facts About Blood Donation
More than 75% of all Americans
reaching age 72 will need blood in their lifetimes; 97% will have a
loved one or friend who will need life-saving blood. The most
common uses for blood are as follows:
| Most Common Uses for Blood |
| Coronary artery
bypass surgery |
1-5 Pints |
| Other open heart
surgery |
up to 40 pints |
| Bleeding ulcer |
3-20 pints |
| Fractured hip/joint
replacement |
2-20 pints |
| Brain surgery |
4-20 pints |
| Prostate Cancer |
4-6 pints |
| Aneurysm |
6-10 pints |
| Auto accident -
trauma |
up to 50 or more
pints |
| Organ transplant |
up to 100 or more
pints |
| Bone
marrow transplant |
1-2 units of red
cells daily for 8-10 weeks |
| 6-8 units of
platelets daily for 4-6 weeks |
How can I find out my blood type?
You will receive a donor identification card in
the mail about a month after your donation.
Your blood type is listed on the front of the card. Present
this card at any of our locations or mobile blood drives when you
donate for easier registration.
I have a really rare ABO/Rh blood type, which must mean you
need my blood more often than those with the common types, right?
Actually, the opposite is true. Those
with common blood types are needed because it is those that
represent the most common patient population. However, there
is always a great need for Type O donors and donors that are Rh
negative. A breakdown of the blood types by population is as
follows:
| Blood Group |
Rh Factor |
Approx. Pop. % |
| O |
Positive |
38% |
| A |
Positive |
34% |
| B |
Positive |
9% |
| AB |
Positive |
3% |
| O |
Negative |
7% |
| A |
Negative |
6% |
| B |
Negative |
2% |
| AB |
Negative |
1% |