Every day, someone in Canada needs blood. Approximately 52 percent of Canadians need blood for themselves or for a family member. If this number is not enough to convince you that it's worth it, here are other blood facts.
- there is no substitute for human blood
- blood makes up about 7% of your body's weight
- blood carries oxygen and nutrients to all of the body
- blood fights against infection and helps heals wounds
- blood centers often have shortages of type O and B blood
- shortages of all blood types usually occur during the summer and winter holidays
- 25% of blood products are used to treat cancer patients
- one out of every ten people in the hospital need blood
- severe burn patients need the platelets from blood donation
- if all blood donors gave three times a year, blood shortages would be a rare event (The current average is about two)
- 46.5 gallons: amount of blood you could donate if you begin at age 17 and donate every 56 days until you reach 79 years old
- you cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood
- giving blood will not decrease your strength
