SCHOOL NEWS
Red Cross: Did you know? Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries.
Interesting facts from the American Red Cross website:
•One donation can help save more than one life.
•The Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton.
•The Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply.
•Only about 3 percent of age-eligible people donate blood yearly.
•Red blood cells must be used within 42 days or less of collection.
•Each year, an estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. donate blood.
•The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O. Type O negative red cells can be given to patients of all blood types. Because only 7 percent of people in the U.S. are type O negative, it’s always in great demand and often in short supply.
•Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S.
•Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require blood transfusions throughout their lives.
•According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.8 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
•A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
Please consider donating blood at the Crissey Elementary blood drive on Wednesday, April 12, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code: CRISSEYELEM.
