Blood Drive – December 7

Blood donors, someone is thankful for you

Blood donors share life. And for that, thousands of people in our community are thankful that blood donors give so generously.

Donate by registering here. 

Why give blood?

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood is essential to help patients survive surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. This lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation. The need for blood is constant and there is no substitute for it. Donors provide the only supply of life-saving blood for those in need. But only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly. You can help.

What is my blood used for?

If you donate blood, it will be given to someone who needs it through a transfusion. Transfusions help replace blood that is lost due to surgery or injury. Transfusions also help people with disorders that prevent them from making blood correctly. Blood transfusions are one of the most common procedures in U.S. hospitals.

There are different kinds of blood donation. Each one is used for a variety of life-saving procedures and treatments.

• Red blood cells are given to people who have blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease or chronic anemia caused by kidney failure or bleeding in the stomach. They are also given to people who have acute blood loss from trauma. Sometimes babies born very early need a transfusion to increase the number of red blood cells in their bodies.
• Platelets are most often used to treat cancer. They are also given to patients who have open-heart surgery and organ transplants.
• Plasma transfusions are used for patients with liver failure, bad infections, and serious burns.
• “Whole blood” is usually given to people who have life-threatening injuries or people in surgery.