What’s your type? No, we don’t mean in a partner. What’s your blood type? If you’re AB or Type 0 (negative or positive), donation centers are out for your blood! One in four Americans will need a blood transfusion at some point in their life, yet only 38 percent of Americans can donate blood and of those eligible to donate, only five percent actually do so! The number of eligible donors with the most sought after blood types is even smaller – only three percent of Americans have AB positive blood.
So what are some of the things holding back Americans from being eligible to donate? Several factors, including age, weight and travel history limit the ability to donate. For some people, there’s a ban on ever being able to donate – if you’ve travelled extensively in Europe or one of the over 70 countries where there’s a risk of malaria, if you’ve ever done intravenous drugs, or if you’re a man who has ever been a sexually active with another man.
If you are eligible, however, you could save up to three lives with just one donation of a pint of blood. Fifty percent of Americans are regular donors.
This infographic explores the numbers behind blood donation as well as the truth to who can give.
From: Bankrate Insurance’s InsuranceQuotes.com