Blood Donation - Be a Life Saver: Donate Blood
Each year 4.5 million American lives are saved by blood transfusions. In fact, every three seconds someone needs a transfusion, and half of us will require a blood transfusion at some point during our lives.
A blood transfusion involves the direct injection of blood into the bloodstream using an intravenous tube (a tube inserted in a vein) with a needle, usually into the arm.
Blood is about 7 percent of our body weight (10 to12 pints). It is made up of multiple components that serve very different and specific purposes:
White blood cells, also know as leukocytes, help to protect the body from infection.
Plasma is the clear liquid that carries blood cells. It is made up of water, protein and minerals and is the body’s natural clotting substance.
Platelets assist in the clotting process which helps to control bleeding.
People may need blood transfusions for many reasons. Advances in science and technology allow blood to be broken down into its specific components and transfused to treat a variety of medical conditions.
Doctors often transfuse their patients to replace blood lost as a result of a severe injury or burn. Some victims of serious accidents or falls have no visible signs of injury or bleeding, but have had injuries that cause internal bleeding. Surgery is usually required to repair the injury and a blood transfusion is often also necessary.
Occasionally people need transfusions to replace blood lost during other, non-injury- related surgeries such as heart, transplant and joint replacement surgeries. Some heart surgeries can use up to 20 pints of red blood cells. Joint replacement surgeries can use 1 to 3 pints of red blood cells.
Some people with illnesses like anemia, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, and leukemia and other cancers also need blood transfusions. Blood platelets are commonly used to treat leukemia patients. Plasma is used to treat hemophilia and red blood cells are used to treat anemia.
Blood cannot be manufactured and, because it has a short shelf life, it must be used quickly and then replenished. Yet maintaining an adequate and fresh supply of blood is difficult when only half of the people who can donate blood actually do donate in their lifetime. And only 5 percent of those people donate once or more in any given year.
One out of every 10 hospital patients needs a blood transfusion. One pint of blood, the amount of blood given in one donation, can save the lives of three people! A blood donation is one of the easiest and most important donations a person can make. Anyone who is at least 17 years old, in good health and weighs at least 110 pounds can donate blood every 56 days.
You don’t have to be a doctor to save a life! Donate now and commit to future donations.
Michael Greenberg, M.D., M.P.H.,
Professor of Emergency Medicine and Public Health; Director, Division of Medical Toxicology
Drexel University College of Medicine
245 N. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA? 19102
http://www.drexel.edu/med/