Why donate blood? It's one of the simplest ways to save lives.

Centuries ago, people started making discoveries about blood and circulation. By the 1940s, scientists had learned enough about human blood to make blood donation and transfusion safe and reliable.

Today, blood transfusions can play a vital part in helping people get better.  

"Every day in the emergency department, blood transfusions save lives," says Margaret Pattison, MD, medical director of the emergency department at PeaceHealth in Springfield, Oregon.

But without blood donors, that life-saving care can’t happen. And the need for blood is urgent and constant. January is National Blood Donation Month, but it’s important to spotlight the power of giving blood all year round.

What blood does

No one can live without blood.  Among blood’s many functions, it:

• Carries oxygen and nutrients to all cells in the body.
• Takes waste to the organs that filter it out of the body.
• Plays a part in fighting illness or healing injuries.

If you or a loved one has ever needed blood, you know it’s one of the most precious gifts someone can give.

About blood transfusions

Getting a blood transfusion means adding blood from outside of your body through a tube inserted in a vein. Every two seconds, someone in our country requires blood. Nearly 5 million people get blood transfusions each year, according to the American Society of Hematology.

People might need a blood transfusion if they:

• Have major surgery.
• Lose a lot of blood due to childbirth or a severe injury.
• Have certain kinds of cancer.
• Have anemia, sickle cell or another serious condition that affects the blood.

"As the medical director of the emergency department, I witness the life-saving power of blood donations every day,” says Dr. Pattison. “That's why I choose to be a blood donor myself—because saving lives starts with us."

Who can give blood

Despite the high demand for blood, only three percent of all Americans choose to donate blood. That’s nearly 7 million people who selflessly give blood every year. 

And giving blood couldn't be easier. There are just a few requirements to donate blood. These are for your safety and to make sure your donation can be used to make a positive impact.  

You need to:

• Be in good health and feel well on the day of your donation.
• Be at least 16 years old in most states.
• Weigh at least 110 pounds.

The process of donating blood typically takes about an hour. That includes registration, check-in, donating and recovery.  

You can give at a mobile blood drive or at a blood donation center in your area. PeaceHealth regularly hosts mobile drives. Check the schedule for a drive or location near you.  

You can give a pint of blood every 56 days or up to six times a year. And each of those donations can save as many as three lives.

It takes your body 4 to 6 weeks to replace the pint you give.  

Since even active donors can give just a few pints a year, it’s important for blood centers to have more people donate.

Matching blood types

Another reason to encourage more people to donate is this: Not all blood is alike.  

Someone who is getting a blood transfusion must have blood in a type that matches or is compatible with their own. If they don’t, the transfusion could make them worse, not better.

How can you tell your blood type? It depends on substances in blood called antigens. These are “markers” that play a part in your blood type. There are eight common blood types (A+/-, B+/-, AB +/-, O+/-).

However, experts have found more than 600 antigens in blood. That means there can be many more types, they’re just not as common.  

People from certain ethnic or racial groups may have distinctive blood types. For example, the African American community has a couple of unique blood types, U-negative and Duffy-negative, according to the American Red Cross. Rare blood types can also be found among members of Native American tribes, Pacific Islanders and other closely related groups.

Blood centers collect donations of all blood types. But one type is especially helpful — O negative. This blood type is considered “universal.” That means it can be given to anyone with any blood type.  

Whatever your blood type, if you’re generally healthy and meet the requirements for donating, think about giving this life-saving gift.  

“By giving blood, you could be the reason someone you care about gets a second chance at life,” says Dr. Pattison.