Rotary Minute & Facebook Campaign – Easy Facts

• Did you know? 1 in 3 people will need a blood transfusion during their lifetime!•1 in 7 patients who enter a hospital will require a blood transfusion• The average donor gives blood twice per year – make sure your club receives credit!•5 days is how long most donated platelets can be stored. Platelets arein high demand because these components help cancer patients fight the side effects of their treatments. •Plasma has a much longer shelf life and is often frozen for later use. Once thawed, plasma is used during cardiac surgery, for burn victims, and to treat bleeding disorders when many clotting factors are missing. This occurs in liver failure, when too much of a blood thinner has been given, or when severe bleeding and massive transfusions result in low levels of clotting factors.•3 lives can be saved with just one pint of donated whole blood.•7 percent of your body weight accounts for blood.

•Red cells can be used for 42 days after they are donated. They are used in the treatment of accident victims, to replace blood lost during surgery, to treat burn victims, and to increase the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. They are also used in treatment of anemia that can't be medically corrected.•You may donate whole blood every 56 days not to exceed six times per year.•You may donate plasma every 28 days•You may donate platelets every 7 days not to exceed 24 times per year.

Rotary Minute & Facebook Campaign – Easy Facts Contd.

•10 minutes is all it actually takes to make a whole blood donation.•10-12 pints of blood can be found in a healthy human body.•37 percent of Americans are eligible to donate blood, yet <4 percent ofthose actually donate blood.•Every 90 seconds someone in your community needs blood.•60,000 miles is the approximate distance of blood vessels throughout yourbody in which your blood flows.•The average bone marrow transplant can require as many as 20 units of blood and 120 units of platelets•The average heart surgery can require as many as six units of blood•The average burn patient will require up to 20 units of platelets.

•How will I feel after I give?Most people feel fine after giving blood. Your body makes new blood constantly, and the fluid you give will be replaced within 2-3 days. Eating a well-balanced meal and drinking plenty of fluids within 24 hours before giving will help you with the donation. You should avoid alcohol before and after giving. Strenuous activity should be avoided for at least 24 hours after giving

Rotary Minute & Facebook Campaign – Easy Facts Contd.

• In North Texas, blood supply is severely limited during the months of July, August, December and January – including the busy holiday season when transfusion needs increase with injuries and accidents. Rotary District 5790 has targeted these months for strategic blood donation to support our North Texas blood centers. Your club can truly have an impact during these months

• Worldwide, there are about 100 million blood donations a year.  Although high income countries account for only about 20% of the global population, they use half the donations, most of which go to patients over 65 years of age.  The availability of safe blood has ensured, especially for older individuals, dramatic advances in surgery, cancer chemotherapy, and organ transplantation, all of which depend on transfusion. 

• In low income nations, up to 65% of transfusions go to children under 5 years old. These youngsters are desperately dependent on blood when profound and life threatening anemia complicates malaria infection. Each year, nearly 800,000 youngsters die of the infection.  It has been estimated that 100,000 could be rescued if blood was available.