blood donor

January is National Blood Donor Month, which makes this a good time to become a blood donor.

Nearly 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the [...]

The World Blood Donor Day campaign, observed Monday, June 14, is an effort by the World Health Organization intended to recognize the critical contribution of [...]

January is National Blood Donor Month, which makes this a good time to learn more about blood donation.

Each year, millions of people need a [...]

January is National Blood Donor Month, which makes this a good time to learn more about blood types.

There are four blood types: A, B, AB [...]

Healthy blood donors are urged to make appointments to meet the ongoing demand for blood products. Mayo Clinic and health organizations nationwide are trying to [...]

January is National Blood Donor Month. Mayo Clinic experts encourage all who are able to donate blood. During the winter months, blood is often [...]

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I recently received a call from a local blood donation center asking if I’d be willing to donate. I’d like to help, but I’ve never donated before and I’m nervous about it. I’m not a fan of needles, and I’m afraid I might faint. Also, is there really that big of a need for donated blood on a regular basis? ANSWER: Donating blood makes a real difference in people’s lives. Hospitals are always in need of new blood donors. Being nervous about blood donation at first is common. But blood donation center staff members are skilled at making the experience as smooth and anxiety-free as possible. Currently, as few as 3 percent of Americans who are eligible to donate blood actually become donors. That’s a concern because many people in the U.S. need blood every day. Some may need blood during surgery. Others may require blood transfusions after an accident. Still others rely on donated blood because they have a disease that makes it necessary for them to receive red blood cells or other blood components. In some cases, receiving donated blood may be the difference between life and death for these individuals.

As few as 3 percent of people eligible to give do; unfounded phobias, anxiety typical reasons why ROCHESTER, Minn. — Sept. 10, 2013 — As few as 3 percent of Americans eligible to donate blood do, and fear and anxiety are common reasons why many decline to give. U.S. hospitals are always in need of new donors; at Mayo Clinic, that need is heightened by concern about iron deficiency in frequent givers. Mayo recently began requiring people to wait 12 weeks rather than eight between donations, a change that means an estimated 10 percent drop in its blood supply. To inspire more people to give blood, Manish Gandhi, M.D., medical director of the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center, addresses six common blood donation phobias: MULTIMEDIA ALERT: Video of Dr. Gandhi and b-roll of blood and blood donation are available for download from the Mayo Clinic News Network. Fear of needles: Needles used in blood donation definitely aren't the harpoons that needle-phobic people may think they are. Dr. Gandhi says donors feel a pinprick, much like getting a vaccination.