Blood is given to accident victims, people undergoing surgery and patients with leukemia, cancer and other diseases. Volunteers donate virtually all of this country's supply of blood for transfusion. It is important to encourage all healthy individuals to donate blood. There are several places where blood donations are given. Bloodmobiles travel to places of employment, high schools, colleges, churches and community organizations.
People can also donate blood at community blood centers and hospital-based donor centers.
A donor must be at least 17 years old to give blood. People in good health who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate a unit of blood as often as every 8 weeks. An interviewer will ask about travel outside the United States and a variety of activities that could indicate increased risk of the donor transmitting one of the infectious agents that can be present in blood. The prospective donor will have his or her temperature, pulse, blood pressure and weight recorded. If a low hematocrit or hemoglobin is found, the donor is temporarily deferred.