When you think of someone needing blood, you probably picture a scene from a TV medical drama: a team of ER docs rushing a car crash or gunshot victim into surgery. While individual trauma cases like these often require a lot of blood and platelet transfusions, trauma and ER patients account for only about 10% of the blood used nationwide.
The majority of blood (and platelet) transfusions go to patients undergoing inpatient treatment for conditions like blood disorders and cancer. Next in line are patients in critical care/ICU, followed closely by outpatient procedures and surgeries/organ transplants. Last, but certainly not least, are pregnancy and childbirth complications in both mothers and babies.
Whether they help an accident victim, cancer patient, organ transplant recipient or a newborn baby, your regular blood donations ensured that lifesaving blood is available for every situation. Thank you!
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