01/30/2026
Fast Facts Friday: ❤️
Key Facts & Figures:
🩸Life-Saving Impact: One pint of donated blood can be separated into red cells, plasma, and platelets, potentially saving up to three lives.
🩸High Demand: Someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds, yet only a small fraction of eligible adults donate.
🩸Blood Type Importance: O negative is the universal donor, while AB plasma can go to anyone; both are often in short supply.
🩸Short Shelf Life: Platelets last only 5 days, and red blood cells up to 42 days, requiring frequent donations.
The Donation Process & Donor Benefits:
🩸Quick & Simple: Whole blood donation takes about 10-15 minutes, with the whole process (registration, mini-physical, refreshment) under an hour.
🩸Mini-Physical: You get a free health check of your pulse, blood pressure, and temperature.
🩸Body Replenishes Quickly: Platelets and plasma are replaced in hours/days, and red blood cells within weeks, allowing frequent donations.
🩸Health Perks: Regular donation can reduce excess iron, stimulate new blood cell production, and potentially lower heart disease risk.
Who Can Donate?
🩸Generally, healthy adults aged 16 or 17 (with consent) or older, weighing at least 110 pounds.
🩸You can donate whole blood every 56 days (about 2 months).
Types of Donations:
🩸Whole Blood: The most common, separated into red cells, plasma, and platelets.
🩸Platelets: Crucial for cancer patients and surgeries, often donated via apheresis (machine collects platelets, returns rest of blood).
🩸Double Red Cells: Donates two units of red cells using an apheresis machine.
