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Article: Blood Donation and Transfusion; Overview.
- Article from:
- NWHRC Health Center - Blood Donation and Transfusion
- Article date:
- March 16, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 National Women's Health Resource Center. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Every year, 4.5 million American lives are saved with blood transfusions, while an estimated 38,000 units-5,000 gallons-of donated blood are used each day in the U.S. Yet even though about 40,000 Americans donate blood each day, that's barely enough to keep the health care system running. The fact is, the country's blood supply runs on perilously thin margins. Just a few years ago, blood shortages occurred in late summer and around the Christmas holidays; these days, they often occur throughout the year because supply has not kept up with demand.
Shortages occur for numerous reasons, including generational differences and behaviors associated with giving blood ...