Why is giving blood a "Community Responsibility"?

Many people consider it a right to receive blood when they need it -- but don't consider the responsibility of giving blood to maintain the community supply for others. To meet patient needs, the Red Cross must collect over 6.2-million units of donated blood every year in America.  American Red Cross Blood Services is in the business of saving lives -- no matter what the address of the patient in need.

97% of the population will have received a blood transfusion by age 75, yet only 5% of the population donates blood for others.

22% of hospital patients are over the age of 65, but they use 52% of the blood transfused.

Patients in Michigan's hospitals use about 2,000 units of blood DAILY, about 1 and a half units per minute, every minute, around the clock.  People often think only of patients who need blood in emergency situations, like automobile accidents. However, the majority of blood users are people with leukemia, cancer, heart disease, and other major illnesses. These men, women and children may need blood on a regular, long-term basis. The following table shows how much blood a typical patient needs for several surgical procedures.