Donation Information

The Red Cross started providing blood for patients in 1940
The Red Cross holds more than 200,000 blood drives every year
1 pint of blood can save up to 3 lives
Every 2 seconds someone needs a blood transfusion
5 million patients in the US need blood every year
30 million blood components are transfused each year
Less than 38 percent of the population is eligible to give blood
Blood can not be manufactured; it can only come from volunteer donors
Platelets, critical for cancer patients, have a shelf life of only 5 days
Adults have around 10 pints of blood in their body, 1 pint is given during a donation
Only 7 percent of people in the US have the Universal donor blood type, O negative
Donors can give blood every 56 days. Platelet donors can give every 7 days

For more Blood Facts and Statistics please click here.

Commonly Asked Questions

Who can donate blood?
Donors must be age 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and, be in good health.

How long does a blood donation take?
The entire process takes about one hour and 15 minutes; the actual donation of a pint of whole blood unit takes eight to 10 minutes. However, the time varies slightly with each person depending on several factors including the donor’s health history and attendance at the blood drive.

Why does the Red Cross ask so many personal questions when I give blood?
The highest priorities of the Red Cross are the safety of the blood supply and our blood donors. Some individuals may be at risk of transferring communicable disease through blood donation due to exposure via travel or other activities or may encounter problems with blood donation due to their health. We ask these questions to ensure that it is safe for patients to receive your blood and to ensure that it is safe for you to donate blood that day.

What does the Red Cross do with my blood?
The blood will be delivered to a Red Cross blood component laboratory where it is processed into several components (e.g., red blood cells, plasma, platelets and/or cryoprecipitate). A single blood donation may help up to three different people.

Is it safe to give blood?
Donating blood is a safe process. Each donor’s blood is collected through a new, sterile needle that is used once and then discarded. Although most people feel fine after donating blood, a small number of people may feel lightheaded or dizzy, have an upset stomach or experience a bruise or pain where the needle was inserted. Extremely rarely, loss of consciousness, nerve damage or artery damage occur.