Blood Drive Today in Medfield

The Medfield Fire Department is holding its 8th annual blood drive today from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the American Legion, 50 Peter Kristof Way (at the intersection of Route 27 and West Street).

Give a pint, save a life.

According to the American Red Cross:

• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
• More than 44,000 blood donations are needed every day.
• A total of 30 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S. (2006).
• The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 pints.
• The blood type most often requested by hospitals is Type O.
• The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
• Sickle cell disease affects more than 80,000 people in the U.S., 98 percent of whom are African American. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives.
• More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

For more information, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) or visit www.redcrossblood.org