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Blood Donation Facts



  • Person above 18 years of age and over 50 Kgs. in weight can donate blood once in three months.
  • Plasma donors may donate twice a week (max. every 48 hours.)
  • Platelet donors may donate a maximum of 24 times per year.
  • Other specialized donations are subject to other rules.


Types of Blood Groups:
There are four blood groups: Type A, Type B, Type AB, and Type O. Additionally there are positive and negative types of each blood group. Type O negative is are "universal donors", which means all blood types can usually receive Type O negative blood donation. Blood centers often run short of types O and B red blood cells.

Blood donation Pre-Screening:
The nurse (or medical expert) taking your blood will ask you some questions which will determine whether or not you are eligible to donate blood and then perform some basic health checks. Questions include any medication you are taking, your current and health in recent days/months, your age, height, weight, recent travel, sex and tattooing history. Blood donor requirements change very frequently. Anyone who is in good health, is at least 17 years old, and weighs at least 110 pounds (about 50 kgs) may donate blood every once in 2-3 months.

Snacks and drinks are provided to the blood donors to help restore blood sugar. It is advisable to sit for a few minutes, then eat well and drink enough water for the next few days. You cannot get AIDS or any other blood disease by donating blood if a new needle before you donate blood. Blood makes up about 7 percent of your body's weight

Products derived from whole blood:
- Red blood cells >> carry oxygen
- Platelet concentrates >> body's clotting system to help control bleeding.
- Plasma (yellow liquid portion) an helps to restores fluid volume.
- Cryoprecipitate and Fractionation.


WHAT TYPE ARE YOU?

FREQUENCY OF BLOOD TYPES

O+ 1 person in 3

O- 1 person in 15

A+ 1 person in 3

A- 1 person in 16

B+ 1 person in 12

B- 1 person in 67

AB+ 1 person in 29

AB- 1 person in 167


  • Those belonging to the O- blood group are called universal blood donors. The red blood cells of a universal blood donor may be transfused to anyone regardless of their blood type.
  • The plasma of those belonging to the AB blood group may be transfused to anyone regardless of blood type.

EXAMPLES OF BLOOD USE

1. Automobile Accident

50 units of blood

2. Heart Surgery

6 units of blood / 6 units of platelets

3. Organ Transplant

40 units of blood / 30 units of platelets

4. 20 bags of cryoprecipitate

25 units of fresh frozen plasma

5. Bone Marrow Transplant

120 units of platelets/ 20 units of blood

6. Burn Victims

20 units of platelets






58 Facts About Blood Donation


1. We all need blood to survive. Blood carries gasses, nutrients and waste through the body. It

helps fight infections, heals wounds and carries out many other important functions that are vital

to sustain life.

2. There is no age limit on who can receive blood. The very young, from the tiniest of preemies in

a hospital’s neonatal unit, to an elderly patient suffering from a blood disorder, all benefit from

blood’s life-sustaining qualities. It’s vital that we maintain a healthy supply of blood to meet the

needs of our community.

3. More than 4.5 million patients need blood transfusions each year in the U.S. and Canada, and

every 3 seconds someone needs blood.

4. 43,000 pints: amount of donated blood used each day in the U.S. and Canada.

5. Someone needs blood every two seconds.

6. 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood – less than 5 percent do annually.

7. About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital need blood.

8. One unit of blood can save up to 3 lives.

9. Healthy individuals who are at least 17 years old, 16 years with signed parental consent form and

at least 110 pounds may donate about a pint of blood – the most common form of donation –

every 56 days, or every two months. Females receive 53 percent of blood transfusions; males

receive 47 percent.

10. 94 percent of blood donors are registered voters.

11. Four main red blood cell types: A, B, AB and O. Each can be positive or negative for the Rh

factor. AB is the universal recipient; O negative is the universal donor of red blood cells.

12. Dr. Karl Landsteiner first identified the major human blood groups – A, B, AB and O – in 1901.

13. One unit of blood can be separated into several components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets

and cryoprecipitate.

14. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.

15. Red blood cells live about 120 days in the circulatory system.

16. Platelets promote blood clotting and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.

17. Plasma is a pale yellow mixture of water, proteins and salts.

18. Plasma, which is 90 percent water, makes up 55 percent of blood volume.

19. Healthy bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells, plasma and platelets.

20. Blood or plasma that comes from people who have been paid for it cannot be used for human

transfusion.

21. Granulocytes, a type of white blood cell, roll along blood vessel walls in search of bacteria to

engulf and destroy.

22. White cells are the body's primary defense against infection.

23. Apheresis is a special kind of blood donation that allows a donor to give specific blood

components, such as platelets.

24. Forty-two days: how long most donated red blood cells can be stored.

25. Five days: how long most donated platelets can be stored.

26. One year: how long frozen plasma can be stored.

27. Much of today's medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors.

28. 2.7 pints: the average whole blood and red blood cell transfusion.

29. Children being treated for cancer, premature infants and children having heart surgery need

blood and platelets from donors of all types, especially type O.

30. Anemic patients need blood transfusions to increase their red blood cell levels.

31. Cancer, transplant and trauma patients, and patients undergoing open-heart surgery may require

platelet transfusions to survive.

32. Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease that affects more than 80,000 people in the United

States, 98 percent of whom are of African descent.

33. Many patients with severe sickle cell disease receive blood transfusions every month.

34. A patient could be forced to pass up a lifesaving organ, if compatible blood is not available to

support the transplant.

35. Thirteen tests (11 for infectious diseases) are performed on each unit of donated blood.

36. 17 percent of non-donors cite "never thought about it" as the main reason for not giving, while

15 percent say they're too busy.

37. The #1 reason blood donors say they give is because they "want to help others."

38. Shortages of all blood types happen during the summer and winter holidays.

39. Blood centers often run short of types O and B red blood cells.

40. The rarest blood type is the one not on the shelf when it's needed by a patient.

41. Despite amazing discoveries and breakthroughs in medical research, there is no substitute for

the contents and functions human blood provides.

42. If all blood donors gave three times a year, blood shortages would be a rare event (The current

average is about two.).

43. If only one more percent of all Americans would give blood, blood shortages would disappear

for the foreseeable future.

44. 46.5 gallons: amount of blood you could donate if you begin at age 17 and donate every 56 days

until you reach 79 years old.

45. Four easy steps to donate blood: medical history, quick physical, donation and snacks.

46. The actual blood donation usually takes about 10 minutes. The entire process – from the time

you sign in to the time you leave – takes less than an hour.

47. After donating blood, you replace the fluid in hours and the red blood cells within four weeks. It

takes eight weeks to restore the iron lost after donating.

48. You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood.

49. 10 pints: amount of blood in the body of an average adult.

50. One unit of whole blood is roughly the equivalent of one pint.

51. Blood makes up about 7 percent of your body's weight.

52. A newborn baby has about one cup of blood in his body.

53. Giving blood will not decrease your strength.

54. Any company, community organization, place of worship or individual may contact their local

community blood center to host a blood drive.

55. Blood drives hosted by companies, schools, places of worship and civic organizations supply

roughly half of all blood donations across the U.S.

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