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Vital Signs

Facts & Figures - New blood

Where transfusions come from

10
Pints of blood in the body of an average adult

8 million
Number of volunteer blood donors annually in the U.S.

5%
Percentage of Americans eligible to donate blood who do so

15 million
Units of blood donated in the U.S. in 2001

4.9 million
Patients who received a blood transfusion in the U.S. in 2001

42
Days after donation that red cells must be used

5
Days after donation that platelets must be used

10%
Pecentage of DHMC patients who need a blood transfusion

25%
Percentage of red cells used at DHMC that are donated locally

90%
Percentage of platelets used at DHMC that are donated locally

30 to 45
Number of minutes it takes to donate blood at DHMC

Sources: American Association of Blood Banks, National Blood Data Resource Center, DHMC Blood Donation Center


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