Did you know?

Three teaspoons of blood can save a baby's life

Blood donations are used every day for surgery patients, cancer patients, accident victims, bone marrow recipients, burn patients and organ transplant recipients; just to name a few of the beneficiaries. A full 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood but nationally, only five percent actually do—more men than women donate!

One pint of blood can be separated into three primary components, which can help up to several people in need:

  1. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's organ and tissues. These cells are needed for accident victims and surgery patients. They can be refrigerated and stored for only up to 42 days.
  2. Plasma is 90 percent water, makes up to 55 percent of blood volume and is needed for organ, burn and shock patients. Plasma can be frozen and stored up to one year.
  3. Platelets are an essential factor in blood clotting and give patients with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live. These can be stored at room temperature no longer than five days.

All three of these important components that make up a pint of blood are made in the body's bone marrow.

About one billion red blood cells are found in just two to three drops of whole blood. For every 600 red blood cells there are approximately 40 platelets and one white cell. The average patient who needs a transfusion uses about three pints of blood and blood components.

Amazingly, the body quickly replenishes any blood that is donated. In fact, a healthy adult can donate whole blood every 56 days, or about every eight weeks. Plasma can be donated as often as once a month. Platelets can be given every two weeks up to 24 times each year.

When you give through apheresis, you may be able to save more lives more often. The process of apheresis involves removal of whole blood from a patient or donor. Within an instrument that is essentially designed as a centrifuge, the components of whole blood are separated. One of the separated portions is then withdrawn and the remaining components are re-transfused into the patient or donor.

Blood Facts

  • Blood makes up about seven percent of a person's weight.
  • An adult body of average weight has between 12 - 14 pints of blood.
  • A 110-pound teenager has around seven pints of blood.
  • A 40-pound child has around two to three pints of blood.
  • Approximately 40,000 pints of blood are used each day in the United States.
  • Approximately one out of every seven people entering the hospital needs blood.
  • One donation has the potential to save as many as three lives.
  • Three teaspoons of blood can save a baby's life.
  • If there are 100 people in a room, 46 will have type O blood, 40 will have type A, 10 will have type B and four will have type AB.
  • If 50 people donate, they could provide enough blood to take care of victims of a major car accident.
  • If 20 people donate, they could help one burn victim.

January is Blood Donor Month. If you are a healthy LifePharm IBO who weighs more than 110 pounds, would you consider being a blood donor?