There’s no substitute for blood. When a patient that is in need receives blood, it was given in advance by a generous donor just like you. Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation.

The Red Cross provides about 40% of our nation’s blood and blood components, all from generous...