> One in 20 Americans will require a blood
transfusion at some point in their
> lives.
> Each year approximately 8 million volunteer
donors give about 14 million
> blood donations.
> About 12 million units of red blood cells
and whole blood, 8 million platelet
> units and 3 million plasma units are transfused
annually.
> More than 90 percent of transfusion complications
have been attributed to
> the presence of leukocytes in allogeneic
blood.
> Every three seconds someone needs blood.
Blood and blood products are
> used to treat accident and burn victims,
cancer patients and other patients
> undergoing surgeries and medical treatments.
> People older than 65 use 43 percent of
all donated blood. The demand for
> blood will increase as the population
ages.
> Approximately 40,000 units of blood are
used each day in the United States.
> One unit of blood is roughly the equivalent
of one pint. On average an adult
> has approximately seven to nine units
of blood.
> Blood centers often run short of type O
and B blood. Shortages of all types
> of blood occur during the summer and winter
holidays.
> Red blood cells can be stored for up to
42 days.
> Platelets can be stored for only five days.
> Frozen plasma can be stored for as long
as one year.
> Each year, approximately 14 million units
of blood are donated by
> volunteers. These donations are processed
into about 27 million blood
> components, which are transfused into
approximately 4 million patients
> a year.
> Because blood donations often are separated
into several “components”
> (red blood cells, plasma and platelets,
for instance), one donation can help
> save three lives.
Example
of Blood Use |
Average # of
Units Required |
Automobile
Accident |
50 units of blood |
Heart Surgery |
6 units of blood
6 units of platelets |
Organ Transplant |
40 units of blood
30 units of platelets
20 bags of cryoprecipitate
25 units of fresh frozen plasma |
Bone Marrow
Transplant |
120 units of platelets
20 units of blood |
Burn |
20 units of platelets |
|
|