UPDATE: TODAY'S BLOOD DRIVE IS CANCELED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE UPDATES.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University and the American Red Cross will co-host a campus blood drive on Wednesday, Jan. 30, in Blackburn Center Gallery Lounge, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This event is open to the public and reservations are encouraged. To schedule your appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org/ and enter “Bison Blood” under “Find the Drive.”

Facts About Blood Needs

• Nearly 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.
• Nearly 21 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.
• The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 units.
• The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.
• Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require blood transfusions throughout their lives.
• According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.5 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer yearly. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.