Episode 59 - Donating Life

Every year, almost five million people will need a blood transfusion, which translates to someone needing a blood transfusion every two seconds.  But even with such a vital component of life being needed so frequently and constantly, only three percent of eligible people in the United States donate blood every year.  So few people donating blood is critical enough, but when you add in the fact that blood has an extremely short shelf life, the need for more donors more frequently is critical.  So critical, the United States is currently facing a deep blood shortage.

 

On this episode of The 9 Line, we speak to Leanne Beasley, VASNHS Blood Bank Supervisor, and Brittany Estrella, Communications Manager for Vitalant, about the current blood shortage, who can give blood and some of the requirements, and how the process works from the point of donation to using that blood to save a life.