blood basics. blood. what is it? there are four main components of blood. red blood cells white...

Blood Basics

Blood. What is it?

There are four main components of blood.

• Red Blood Cells

• White Blood Cells

• Platelets

• Plasma

Blood. What is it?

Red Cells• Contain hemoglobin and

carry oxygen

throughout the body

White Cells• Help fight infection

Blood. What is it?

Platelets• Help prevent massive blood loss

by helping blood to clot

Plasma• Liquid portion of blood that

carries platelets, red cells and proteins throughout the body

Blood. What is it?

Blood TypesThere are eight common blood types that include:

A-, A+, B-, B+, O-, O+, AB- and AB+.

More information about blood types is outlined in the table right.

Blood. What is it?

Blood TypesBlood type is an inherited trait. The chart below illustrates how blood types are determined.

Blood. What is it?

Facts about blood

• The average adult has 10 - 12 pints of blood in their body.

• Blood is a perishable product with a shelf life of only 42 days and platelets only 5 days, so it must be replenished constantly – there is simply no substitute.

• Under normal circumstances, about every two seconds someone in America will need blood.

Who We Are and What We Do

The Red Cross provides blood for patients in need,

collecting more than 40 percent of the nation’s

supply.

• Single largest blood supplier in the United States

• Trusted provider for patients in more than 3,000 hospitals

• National blood inventory management system

• Participate in Rare Donor Registry


Other lines of service:

• Disaster Services – Each year the Red Cross responds to more than 75,000 disasters – locally, nationally and worldwide. These services are free, a donated gift of the American people.

• Armed Forces Emergency Services – The Red Cross operates an around-the-clock, around-the-world emergency communication network for the men and women of the armed forces and their families.


• Health and Safety Outreach- The Red Cross has offered health and safety education for more than 90 years, helping to save lives and strengthen communities. Currently, the Red Cross provides training in:

– First Aid/CPR/AED– Aquatics (lifeguarding, water safety)– Caregiving (babysitter’s training, family caregiving)– HIV/AIDS Education

• International Humanitarian Services – A global network works to restore hope and dignity to the world’s most vulnerable people. International Services focuses on the following priority areas:

– International Tracing– International Humanitarian Law– Malaria and Measles Initiatives– Disaster Preparedness and Response

Blood Donation and Eligibility

Whole Blood Donation

• A unit of whole blood is collected from a volunteer donor.

• After donation, the whole blood unit is separated into components.


Whole Blood Donation

• The entire process lasts about 1 hour.

• Donors can give every 56 days, up to 6 times per year.

• Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days.


Whole Blood DonationTo be eligible to donate whole blood someone must:

• Be at least 17 years old (16 in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska with signed Red Cross parental consent form).

• Weigh at least 110 lbs.

• Be in good health.


Automated Platelet Donation

• Platelet donation is an automated process where blood is drawn from a donor’s arm into a special machine. This machine separates the platelets and some plasma and returns the remaining blood components to the donor.


Automated Platelet Donation

• The entire platelet donation process lasts about 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

• Donors can give up to 24 times a year. We recommend every 2 to 4 weeks.

• Platelets have a shelf life of 5 days.


Automated Platelet DonationTo be eligible to donate platelets someone must:


• Weigh at least 110 lbs• Be in good health. • Not have taken aspirin in the past 36 hours.


Automated Double Red Cell

Donation

• An automated process where the red blood cells are separated by a machine and reserved while the remaining blood components are returned to the donor.


• Automated Double Red Cell Donation

• The entire double red cell donation process lasts about 1 hour and 25 minutes.

• Donors can give every 112 days up to 3 times per year.

• Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days.


Automated Double Red Cell DonationTo be eligible to donate double red cells someone must:


• Males: Weigh 150 lbs. or more and be 5’1” or taller.• Females: Weigh 175 lbs. or more and be 5’5” or taller.• Be in good health.


What is the best donation for my blood type?There are certain blood types that are better suited for certain types of donations. The table outlines this idea in more detail.


• Steps in the Donation Process

• Registration

• Health History and Mini-physical

• Donation

• Refreshments

Blood Safety

• The blood supply is safer today than it has ever been.

• A few ways the blood supply is kept safe:

• Because blood is a prescription drug, it is regulated carefully by the Food and Drug Administration.

• In addition to the FDA requirements, the American Red Cross has implemented many safety precautions.

• About 12 tests are performed on every blood donation.

Blood Donation: It Makes A Difference

What happens to blood after donation?The table right serves as a guide through donation process from donation to transfusion.


Hospital patients undergoing surgeries and treatments can require various amounts of blood products.


• Who is helped by blood donation?

• Every day more than 38,000 blood products are needed to treat people with serious medical conditions – people like Elise.

• Elise was born with a life-threatening heart defect. In order to save her life, Elise had to undergo an eight-hour surgery to fix her heart defect. She required 22 units of whole blood and clotting factors to make her body strong enough for surgery.


“Thank you to all of the donors who help people like Elise, who so desperately need a second chance at life.”

-Terri Punke, Elise’s Mom

To find out more about how you can help save lives by donating blood or sponsoring a blood drive, please call 1.800.GIVE.LIFE or log onto givebloodgivelife.org.

blood basics. blood. what is it? there are four main components of blood. red blood cells white...

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