Penn High School 2010 Spring Blood Drive

MISHAWAKA—The Penn National Honor Society will be holding its Spring Blood Drive on Monday, March 15th and Tuesday, March 16th in the CPA lobby. Eligible blood donors will need to sign up in the Math & Science Division Office between Monday, February 22nd and Thursday, March 11th. In order to donate blood, students must be at least 17 years old or 16 with parental permission, be in good health, and weigh at least 110 pounds. Students must not have had any tattoo or piercing work done for twelve months prior to the donation. Any specific questions regarding the process of donating blood should be directed towards Mrs. Knight in room 240; however, any general answers may be found below.
 
Why give blood?

1. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.

2.More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day.

3.One out of every 10 people admitted in a hospital needs blood.

4.Total blood transfusions in a given year: 14 million (2001)

5. More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.

6. The blood type most often requested by hospitals is Type O.

7. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.

How often can you give blood?

8. A healthy donor may donate red blood cells every 56 days.

9. A healthy donor may donate platelets as few as 3 days apart, but a maximum of 24 times a year.

What is the current blood supply?

10. The number of blood donations collected in the U.S. in a year: 15 million (2001)

11. The number of blood donors in the U.S. in a year: 8 million (2001)

12. The number of patients who receive blood in the U.S. in a year: 4.9 million (2001)

13. The volume of blood transfused to patients is increasing at the rate of 6% per year (2001)

14. The demand for blood transfusions is growing faster than donations.

15. Less than 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood.

16. Blood cannot be manufactured — it only comes from generous donors.

17. Shortages of all blood types usually occur during the summer and winter holidays.

Is it safe for me?

18. Yes, donating blood is a safe process. A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded.

19. Yes, blood donation is a simple four-step process: registration and medical history, mini-physical, donation, and refreshments.

20. Yes, every blood donor is given a mini-physical, checking the donor's temperature, blood pressure, pulse and hematocrit level (red blood cells count) to ensure it is safe for him or her to give blood.

21. Yes, the average adult has about 10 to 12 pints of blood in his body. Roughly 1 pint is given during a donation.

22. Information you give to the American Red Cross during the donation process is strictly confidential. It may not be released without your permission except as directed by law.

23. All donated blood is tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, syphilis and other infectious diseases, before it can be released to hospitals.

How much of my time will donating blood take?

24. The actual blood donation typically takes less than 10-12 minutes. The entire process, from the time you arrive to the time you leave, takes about an hour.

Why should I want to donate blood? Who actually donates?

25. The #1 reason donors say they give blood is because they "want to help others."

26. Two most common reasons cited by people who don't give blood are: "Never thought about it" and "I don't like needles."

27. One donation can help save the lives of up to 3 people.

28. If you began donating blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached 76, you would have donated 48 gallons of blood, potentially helping save over 1,000 lives!

29. Red Cross donors are 50% male and 50% female.

30. The American Red Cross accepts blood donations only from voluntary donors.

31. Among Red Cross donors in a given year, 18% donate occasionally, 38% are first time donors, and 43% are repeat and loyal donors.

32. People with O- type blood are universal donors. Their blood can be given to people of all blood types. Only 7% of people in the U.S. have O- blood type.

33. Type O- blood is often used in emergencies before the patient's blood type is known, and with newborns who need blood.

34. 45% of people in the U.S. have type O (+/-) blood. This percentage is higher among Hispanics — 57%, and among African Americans — 51%

35. People with AB+ type blood are universal donors of plasma, the liquid portion of blood. AB+ plasma is often used in emergencies, for newborns and for patients requiring massive transfusions.

American Red Cross. www.givelife2.org/sponsor/quickfacts.asp