Most of us will require a blood transfusion at some point in our lives. To meet patients' needs for blood and blood components, Community Blood Services of Illinois requires approximately 75 donors every weekday. Last year, more than 30,000 patients were helped with over 19,000 donations of blood given by volunteer donors.

Major Reasons Patients Need Blood

• Cancer
• Heart and blood vessel disease
• Disease of the gastrointestinal tract
• Emergencies such as car accidents and burns
  
  
  

Examples

Automobile Accident
50 units of red blood cells

Heart Surgery
6 units of red blood cells
6 units of platelets

Organ Transplant
40 units of red blood cells
30 units of platelets
20 bags of cryoprecipitate
25 units of fresh frozen plasma

Bone Marrow Transplant
120 units of platelets
20 units of red blood cells

Burn
20 units of platelets