Do people have blood to spare?
A. Yes. Most adults have between 8 to 12 pints of blood and can easily spare a pint. Volume is replaced within 24 hours and red cells are replaced within 4 to 8 weeks after donating. Q. Is there a substitute for donated blood? A. No. All transfusions in this country are a result of the 8 million volunteer blood donors in the United States. But the demand for transfusions is increasing as the population ages and more sophisticated medical care and surgeries, requiring transfusion support, become more commonplace. Q. Can’t blood be frozen for use anytime? A. Some rare red cells are frozen for emergency use but thawing them is costly, requires special staff and equipment and then must be transfused within 24 hours. So a fresh supply of blood is really what’s best. Q. Doesn’t donated blood last forever? A. No. Donated blood is perishable just like milk. Red cells last for 42 days; platelets last for 5 days; plasma can be frozen for up to a year. Q. What is a “rare” blood type? A. Some peop
