The Northeastern Pennsylvania Region of the American Red Cross headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, is one of 37 American Red Cross regional blood centers whose mission is to fulfill the needs of the American people for the safest, most reliable, most cost-effective blood, plasma, and tissue services through voluntary donations.

Their region is a non-profit blood collection, processing, testing, and distribution center serving 21 counties in northeastern and central Pennsylvania and three counties in New York. This blood center serves patients in about 40 hospitals.

More than 400 blood donors are needed in their region every day. Donors can give blood at any of their bloodmobiles, or at one of their collection sites. Volunteers are the life blood of the American Red Cross. People who wish to volunteer with the blood program have many choices. You can also be a Sponsor and help recruit donors from the group or community. Their staff works closely with the sponsors to help make their blood drive a success.

Anyone who is at least 17 years old, weighs more than 105 pounds and is in good general health can donate blood. A confidential health-history and mini-physical further determine a donor's eligibility.

Donating blood is relatively painless, and the actual process usually takes only six to eight minutes. After you register, a nurse takes a drop of blood from your earlobe to test whether your hemoglobin (iron content) is sufficient for blood donation. Then, your temperature, pulse and blood pressure are checked, and a series of health history questions are asked to determine whether it is same for you to donate and to ensure that your blood is safe for the recipient.

Less than one pint of blood is taken during a donation. Since your body has about 10-12 pints, you are sharing only your reserve unit. Your body will replace the fluid portion of the blood within 24 hours and the red blood cells within ten days to two weeks. It's safe, simple and most importantly...it saves lives.

Some Commonly Asked Questions

Q. Why is volunteer donated blood so important?
A. Imagine your father has just suffered a heart attack and must undergo open heart surgery in order to repair the damage... Imagine your sister-in-law's baby was born with a congenital heart defect and required daily transfusions of blood in order to have a chance at survival... Imagine your best friends daughter has just been diagnosed with leukemia, a disease requiring regular transfusions of platelets.

Do these sound like isolated situations? They're not a remote as you may believe. Figures indicate that, by age 65, approximately 97% of the population will require a transfusion of blood or blood products. If any of these or similar tragedies have happened to you, your family or your friends, you may have become aware of just how important it is to have an adequate supply of blood...our most precious natural resource. Blood can help restore an individual's health or save a life in an emergency situation.

Q. How often can I donate blood?
A. You can give blood every 56 days.

Q. How much blood can I donate?
A. Donors give a unit of blood, which is slightly less than a pint. The average person has between 10 and 12 units of blood in your body. The fluid taken during the donation is replaced in your body in about 24 hours. Your body replaces the cells taken during the donation in about six weeks. And, you can give blood again in 8 weeks or 56 days.

Q. What is the blood tested for?
A. Every blood donation is tested for eight infectious diseases, including syphilis, the most common forms of hepatitis, and the virus that causes AIDS.

Extend your best wishes to The American Red Cross by contributing what you can or by volunteering your time. Let's all help them to bring somebodies Dream Alive.