Facts About Blood Donation
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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 lifesaving blood. The most common uses
for blood are as follows:
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Most Common Uses For Blood
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Coronary artery bypass surgery
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1-5 pints
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Other open heart surgery
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Up to 40 pints
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Bleeding ulcer
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3-20 pints
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Fractured hip / joint
replacement
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2-20 pints
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Brain surgery
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4-20 pints
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Prostate cancer
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4-6 pints
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Aneurysm
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6-10 pints
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Auto accident - trauma
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Up to 50 or more pints
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Organ transplant
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Up to 100 or more pints
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Bone marrow transplant
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1-2 units of red cells
daily for 8-10 wks
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6-8 units of platelets
daily for 4-6 wks
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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 blood types 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%
|
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B
|
Negative
|
2%
|
|
AB
|
Negative
|
1%
|
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