About An Hour of Your Time Could Change Someone’s Life
It takes about an hour to make a whole blood donation — from the moment you walk through the clinic door, to the moment one of our volunteers shows you the way out. The blood you give will be used within days to help give someone life. Every donation counts.
"It saved my life," says Jade, who received emergency transfusions of blood and blood products when she hemorrhaged after giving birth to her baby daughter. "I know without a doubt that had it not been for the blood given to me that night, I would not be here today..." Read Jade’s inspiring story.
Every Blood Component Has a Job To Do
Whole blood is made of several components that can be transfused separately or together to treat various conditions:
- Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues and remove carbon dioxide through the lungs.
- White blood cells protect the body from infection. (They also, however, can carry viruses and bacteria—which is why they are removed from donated blood.)
- Platelets provide the basis for clotting, which helps control bleeding.
- Plasma is a liquid containing proteins that help fight infection and assist clotting. Plasma distributes nutrients to tissues and transports waste products to the lungs, liver and kidneys.
Do You Know Your Blood Type?
Everyone has a type, and you belong to one of four: O, A, B and AB. An additional factor — the ‘Rh factor’ — determines whether your type is positive or negative. When you donate, we test your blood to identify exactly which type you belong to. This is important because blood type not only affects who can receive your donated blood, but also which types you could receive.
It takes all ‘types’ to save lives: find a clinic where you can donate.
See how every blood donation makes a difference in someone’s life. Find out if you can give.