Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: Why is Community Blood Bank visiting my area?

A: Community Blood Bank is in your community because it is the sole supplier of blood and blood products to your local area hospital. We were invited to the community by your local hospital to supply blood for local patients. In turn, we rely on local bloodmobile drives to help keep that supply constant and available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

Q: I’ve donated with another organization; do my past donations get recognized?

A: Absolutely. Any donations you have made elsewhere are immediately recognized with the Community Blood Bank. For instance, if you’ve donated three gallons with another blood program, we recognize you as a three gallon donor with Community Blood Bank in support of your community.

 

Q: Who does my donation help?

A: That’s what makes Community Blood Bank so special. The blood you donate is distributed to Community Blood Bank hospitals, including your hometown healthcare organization. Working together, we can make sure our hometown patients are taken care of.

 

Q: Why is it so important to donate blood?

A: Only five percent of the eligible public actually donates blood. That’s such a small amount so there is always a need for blood. We need an average of 100 units of blood a day to take care of patients.

 

Q: How long does it take to donate blood?

A: The Community Blood Bank understands how important your time is. Thanks to the convenience of the bloodmobile, donating blood only takes about 25-30 minutes.

 

Q: What do I need to do before and after I donate?

A: Make sure you eat and drink plenty of fluids. Your body responds to the loss of one pint of blood by signaling your bone marrow to go to work making new red blood cells. Your red cell level will be back to normal in a few weeks. The liquid portion of your blood will be back to normal in less than 24 hours. Eat a good meal and drink a little more water than you normally would.

 

Other Quick Blood Donation Facts:

• 550 units of blood are needed every week to meet the needs of our local hospitals.
• Only 5% of the population donates blood.
• Eight out of ten of us will require blood or blood products in our lifetime.
• Much of today's medical care depends on steady, safe supply of blood from healthy volunteer donors.
• Donating blood takes about 25 to 30 minutes. 5-10 minutes to interview, 5-10 minutes to donate, and a few minutes to refresh following donation.
• The interview process will include a mini physical and medical history.
• One unit of blood can be separated into several components (red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets).
• We need to collect blood each and every day. Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days, platelets must be used within 5 days and plasma can be stored up to one year if frozen.
• Accident victims may require 50 to 100 units of blood during their course of treatment.
• Cancer, trauma and surgery patients require transfusions to survive.
• Bone marrow transplant patients need platelet donations from an estimated 120 people and red blood cells from an estimated 20 people.
• Children being treated for cancer, premature infants and children having heart surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types.
• If you started donating blood at 17 years old and donated every 56 days through the age of 76, your donations will be equal to 48 gallons.
• 4.5 million American lives are saved each year through blood transfusions.
• There are 1 billion red blood cells in 2-3 drops of blood.
• 94% of blood donors are registered voters.
• Someone needs blood every 3 seconds.
• You will SAVE lives by donating blood!