Blood donation is a process by which a blood donor voluntarily has blood drawn for storage in a blood bank, generally for subsequent use in a blood transfusion.

The availability of blood for operations and transfusions is an essential part of our health care system. Doctors and surgeons rely on blood donations to carry out a wide variety of life saving and life enhancing treatments daily. Components extracted from the blood, such as plasma, are also important in treating burns or preventing infection.

Currently, only 6% of the eligible population donates blood, but the need for blood transfusions remains consistently high. Anything up to three million donations a year are needed in the UK alone to keep pace with all the treatments that are carried out.

These are events where a blood bank or other blood collecting organization will set up in a convenient location—such as a shopping centre, large employer, university, high school, or a local church—for people to stop in without appointment during their daily routine to donate blood. Sometimes a bloodmobile is used to run a blood drive. Usually a modified recreational vehicle, it is an easy place to run a blood drive because it is already set up for the process of blood donation.

Hospitals throughout the country need supplies of all types of blood, not just the rare blood groups.

Every year, millions of people in the world receive life-saving blood transfusions. During a transfusion, you receive whole blood or parts of blood such as

* Red blood cells - cells that carry oxygen to and from tissues and organs
* Platelets - cells can be used to control bleeding
* Plasma - liquid part of the blood that helps blood clot

Some people worry about getting a sick from giving or receiving blood. It is possible, but is very rare. The Food and Drug Administration and other organizations that collect blood make sure that blood is safe. Every single donation is tested for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, syphilis and several other diseases that can be transmitted through blood. Some people who know they may need blood during surgery donate their own ahead of time. That is the safest type of transfusion.



Blood donation is a process by which a blood donor voluntarily has blood drawn for storage in a blood bank or for subsequent use in a blood transfusion. It is estimated that only a small portion of the population are active donors. Blood banks are constantly in need of blood for many patients every day. Giving a pint of blood saves up to 3 lives and takes roughly 45 minutes of your time. Contact your local blood bank if you wish to donate. You may donate once every 56 days if you meet the basic qualifications.

Make donating blood with regularity a part of your life. The process is simple and safe. Minority groups have something special to give. Different groups of people have different percentages of blood types. Thus, it is important that every ethnic group participate in blood donation programs. Remember: you can save the life of a friend, a neighbor, and also a family member.

Every year, nearly 5 million people in the United States receive life-saving blood transfusions. During a transfusion, you receive whole blood or parts of blood such as

Red blood cells - cells that carry oxygen to and from tissues and organs
Platelets - cells can be used to control bleeding
Plasma - liquid part of the blood that helps blood clot

The availability of blood for operations and transfusions is an essential part of our health care system. Doctors and surgeons rely on blood donations to carry out a wide variety of life saving and life enhancing treatments daily. Components extracted from the blood, such as plasma, are also important in treating burns or preventing infection.

As the new year begins, the Red Cross hopes Americans will add one more item to their list of resolutions – donate blood. Blood supplies typically teeter at dangerously low levels during the winter months, prompting blood service providers across the country to designate January as National Volunteer Blood Donor Month.

The number of cases of AIDS attributed to infection through blood transfusion is higher in France than in any other country in the European Union. A survey last December listed 1686 cases in France, compared with 414 in Italy, 304 in Spain, 122 in the United Kingdom, and 106 in Belgium.