Fact Sheet: Blood

Collections/Outdates

The weeks following September 11, 2001, the Red Cross collected more than 925,000 units of blood. Of those units, approximately 49,000 were outdated, meaning their useful shelf life of 42 days expired before they were needed. This means the Red Cross experienced about a 5 percent outdate rate, only slightly higher than the average 1 to 3 percent outdate rate during normal circumstances.

Blood donations can be processed into three primary components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. One donation can yield platelets for cancer patients, red cells for accident victims and plasma for burn patients.

First-Time Donors

Approximately 276,423 first-time donors successfully gave blood September 11 through October 1, 2001.

Nationally, about 20% of the first-time donors have returned for at least one donation and about 4% have returned for at least two donations. (Compared to the average rates the year before, 24% of first-time donors returned for one donation, and 5% returned for at least two donations.)

Nationally, about 20% of first-time donors who gave blood between September 1 and November 30, 2001, were high school and college-age (25 or younger). If each of these donors gave blood just two times, we would increase the nation's blood supply by 1.14 million donations.

Blood Distributed to Hospitals Throughout September

Through its unique national network, the American Red Cross moved more than 5,000 units of blood to the two Red Cross blood centers closest to New York City and Washington, D.C.; however only about 1,000 units were actually distributed to hospitals in the surrounding areas.

Fast Facts

Every two seconds, a person in the United States needs a blood transfusion.
Only five percent of the eligible U.S. population donates blood.
Healthy men and women who are at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds or more are eligible to donate blood.
U.S. adults are allowed to give blood once every two months.
The most common blood type is O, while the rarest blood type is AB.
Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days. Platelets have a shelf life of five days.

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