BLOOD BY THE NUMBERS

900,000

Average number of units of blood collected each year in Canada, outside Quebec

252,340

Number of units of blood collected from donors in 2011-12 by Hema-Quebec, which runs the province’s blood system

850,000

Estimated units of red blood cells transfused into patients in Canada in 2011-12

2.5 MILLION +

Number of bottles of blood collected in Canada during Second World War to help soldiers and war victims

5

Average number of litres of blood in a person’s body

450 MLS

Amount of blood that goes into a single donation. Though it is frequently referred to as a ‘pint,’ a blood donation is 450 millilitres, rather than the 570 mls in a pint. The human body begins replenishing the lost blood within hours, and finishes the job within 56 days.

20,000

Number of blood clinics run by the Canadian Blood Services each year

42 DAYS

Maximum shelf life for red blood cells collected through blood donations. Most blood is sent to hospitals within a week. Platelets have only a five-day shelf life.

1

Number of hours, on average, it takes to donate blood

17

Minimum legal age for donating blood in Canada

7

Number of times a year a healthy person can donate blood (i.e. every 56 days)

EVERY 60 SECONDS

How often, on average, someone in Canada receives blood or a blood product

4

Number of days after which the supply of blood products for high-demand blood groups would run out if Canadians stopped donating blood

3

Number of lives that can be saved with one donation of blood. Whole blood donations are separated into red cells, platelets and plasma. Each component can be given to a different person.

52%

Proportion of Canadians who say they or a family member have needed blood or blood products for surgery or for

medical treatment

ONE IN 10

Number of people admitted to hospital who receive blood

54%

Proportion of Canadians eligible to donate blood

3.7%

Proportion of Canadians who actually give blood

ONE IN THREE

Number of Canadians who do not know their blood type

2

Average number of units of blood transfused for hip replacement surgery

50

Average units of blood transfused to save the life of a car-crash victim