Every two seconds in America, someone needs blood, and one in seven patients entering a hospital require blood transfusions. This ranges from trauma victims to patients battling sickle cell disease or to ensure a successful organ or bone marrow transplant. Cancer patients use 25 percent of all blood donations, and blood transfusions are needed in one out of every 83 newborn deliveries in America. One blood donation could save up to three lives. Claudine Van Gonka, Director of Community Relations and Media for the San Diego Blood Bank, discusses National Blood Donor Month, which is celebrated in January.
