In 1953, the Medical Staff adopted in its bylaws “Indications for Blood Transfusion,” which are in brief as follows: 1. To replace needed whole blood volume; 2. For oxygen transport, (A) Anemic patient, otherwise well, must have seven or less Gm. per cent of hemoglobin, (B) Anemic patient with complications affecting oxygenation or is to undergo anesthesia may be transfused if the hemoglobin is less than 10 Gm. per cent; 3. Exchange transfusion, and 4. Fresh whole blood is indicated only in rare instances of dyscrasias where a labile element is important. In the period from 1953 to 1960, the application of these indications has resulted in a decreasing “use factor” (units transfused annually divided by the number of patients) from 0.237 to 0.110. The benefits achieved are the following: Limits the transfusions to patients having valid medical indications, protects the patients from the hazards of unnecessary transfusions, and eases the burden of donor recruitment and blood col