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How to donate blood
Tuesday, September 01, 1998
For the fiscal year that ended June 30:
The American Red Cross collected 193,483 units of blood in the 66 counties in the five states that compose the Johnstown headquarters.
The Central Blood Bank, which covers six counties in southwestern Pennsylvania - Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Mercer, Westmoreland and Washington - northern West Virginia and eastern Ohio, collected 161,488 units during that same time period.
Nationally, about 14 million units of blood are donated each year by about 8 million volunteer donors.
However, fewer than 5 percent of eligible Americans donate blood each year, according to the American Association of Blood Banks.
The blood service groups charge hospitals from about $69 to $72 a unit of blood, which is just under a pint.
Eligible donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh 103 pounds (Central Blood Bank) or 105 pounds (American Red Cross), and be in generally good health.
Eligible donors can give blood every 56 days, or six times a year. Actual donation takes between 5 to 10 minutes.
Donors can give platelets 24 times a year, a procedure that take 90 minutes.
Under federal regulations no one can be paid for blood or platelet donation.
Some plasma centers do pay for blood plasma donations, but that plasma can be used only for research, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
No one is too old to donate blood.
For information on donating blood call:
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The Central Blood Bank: (800) 310-9551.