Every two seconds someone needs a blood transfusion
5 million patients in the US alone need blood every year
Less than 38% of the population is eligible to give blood
Blood cannot be manufactured; it can only come from voluntary donors
30 million blood components are transfused each year
Platelets, critical for cancer patients, have a shelf life of only five days
Adults have approximately 10 pints of blood in their body. One pint is given during a donation
Only 7% of people in the US have O Negative, the universal blood type
The Red Cross holds over 200,000 blood drives every year
Blood donors can give blood every 56 days; platelet donors every 7 days As you can see, the need is great and the supply is limited. It's an hour of your time and a tiny prick to your arm every other month, but look at the difference you can make! The man I met this week certainly has!