170 Hospitals and Thousands of Patients
American Red Cross Blood Services - New England Region serves 170 hospitals in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Patients undergoing surgery, accident victims, cancer patients, and hemophiliacs are among the many who receive blood provided by the Red Cross. American Red Cross Blood Services across the United States provide nearly half the nation's blood for transfusion and therapeutics. The Red Cross leads the nation in research into uses for blood products.

Blood Helps Keep You Healthy
Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body. It carries carbon dioxide and other waste products back to the lungs, kidneys and liver for disposal. It fights against infection and helps heal wounds.

Blood Components

One pint of blood can be separated into several components.
Component	Function
Red Blood Cells	Carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissues
White Blood Cells	Body's primary defense against infection
Platelets	Help blood to clot.
Plasma	Helps maintain blood pressure, carries blood cells, nutrients, enzymes and hormones, and supplies critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity.

Blood Transfusions
Blood is used to treat patients with cancer and those undergoing surgery, victims of accidents and trauma. Blood products help to prevent viral infectious diseases such as chicken pox and is used in the treatment of shock. Blood helps people with bleeding problems, such as leukemia patients and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.