Ada City-County Emergency Management
The news is filled with studies that place people in some percentage range based on wealth or health or any other category that comes to mind. This New Year, make a resolution to find out if you belong to a life-saving percentage of the population.

According to the American Red Cross, only 37 percent of the people in the U.S. are eligible to donate blood; only five percent of those eligible actually donate each year. January is national blood donor month.

Take the time to find out if you are one of those that can help many others by donating blood. The following information on need, supply and the donation process is from the American Red Cross.

What is the need?
Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.

• More than 38,000 blood donations are needed a day.
• The average red blood cell transfusion is about 3 pints.
• The blood type most often requested by hospitals is Type O.
• The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
• More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

What is the supply?

• The number of blood donations collected in the U.S. in a year: 16 million (2006).
• The number of blood donors in the U.S. in a year: 9.5 million (2006).
• The number of patients who receive blood in the U.S. in a year: 5 million (2006).
• Blood cannot be manufactured; it can only come from generous donors.
• Type O-negative blood (red cells) can be transfused to patients of all blood types. It’s I always in great demand and often in short supply.
• Type AB-positive plasma can be transfused to patients of all other blood types. AB plasma is also usually in short supply.

The blood donation process

• Donating blood is a safe process. A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded.
• Blood donation is a simple four-step process: registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation and refreshments.
• Every blood donor is given a mini-physical, checking the donor's temperature, blood pressure, pulse and hemoglobin to ensure it is safe for the donor to give blood.
• The actual blood donation typically takes less than 10-12 minutes. The entire process, from the time you arrive to the time you leave, takes about an hour and 15 minutes.
• The average adult has about 10 pints of blood in their body. Roughly 1 pint is given during a donation.
• A healthy donor may donate whole blood every 56 days.
• A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.
• All donated blood is tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and other infectious diseases before it can be released to hospitals.
• Information you give to the American Red Cross during the donation process is confidential. It may not be released without your permission except as directed by law.

How to donate
Many local clubs, churches, businesses and government agencies sponsor blood drives during the year. If you are not affiliated with a group that sponsors a blood drive you can donate at the Center closest to you.

For information on donation times and location go to: http://www.redcrossblood.org/lewisclark

Published 1-13-2012