Giving Blood is Safe and Easy

• Your body quickly replaces the blood you give.
• An hour is all it takes to give blood to save another's life - the actual donation time is less than ten minutes.
• If you are aged 17 or over, you are eligible to donate blood.  Some states require a parent's written consent if you are under 18.  If you are aged 66 or over, you may be accepted as a donor, after your health history is evaluated at the blood collection site.
• The Red Cross collects blood only from voluntary donors.
   

A Single Donation Sustains More Than One Life

One donation can be separated into components and used to treat several patients.  Some uses for blood components through transfusion therapy follow:

• Packed red cells are prescribed for anemic patients.
• Platelet concentrates control bleeding in leukemic patients.
• Plasma from many donors is pooled to make derivatives such as antihemophilic factor, albumin for the treatment of shock, and gamma globulin which may prevent or make less severe certain diseases.
• Cryoprecipitate is administered to patients with hemophilia A.
   

The Blood in Your Body

• The average adult's body contains about 10 to 12 pints of blood.
• Your body continuously replaces its red cells, making new ones with iron salvaged from old ones that have been retired.
• Blood transports nutrients and defensive antibodies, cells, and clotting factors; red blood cells deliver or release oxygen.