Why donate blood and who does your donation help?
About 328 million people currently live in the U.S. Each year, approximately 6.8 million people in the U.S donate blood. Annually, this adds up to about 13.6 million units of whole blood collected for donation in the U.S. The Red Cross provides about 40% of our nation’s blood and blood cell components to donors. Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.

Right now, blood donations are at an all time low.
Concern is rising for the nation’s blood supply, which has dipped to concerning levels and could force hospitals to hold off on essential blood and platelet transfusions. The Red Cross is facing a dangerous situation unless more donors give now. Some patients requiring transfusion may not receive the blood products they need. Donors of all blood types – particularly type O blood, the most needed blood group by hospitals – and platelets are still needed daily to meet demand.