Blood Basics

The need is constant.

The gratification is instant.
Give blood.TM
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 Types
There are eight common blood types that include: A-, A+, B-, B+, O-
,
O+, AB- and AB+.
Blood. What is it?

Blood Types
Blood 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

Maintains a national blood inventory management system

Participates in Rare Donor Registry

Who We Are and What We Do

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.
Who We Are and What We Do

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.
Blood Donation and Eligibility

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.

Blood Donation and Eligibility

Whole Blood Donation

To be eligible to donate whole blood someone must:

Be 17 years old or 16 with a signed Red Cross parental/guardian

consent form where state permits.

Weigh at least 110 lbs.

Be in good health.
Blood Donation and Eligibility

Apheresis 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.
Blood Donation and Eligibility

Apheresis Platelet Donation

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

Donors can give up to 24 times a year.

Platelets have a shelf life of 5 days.

Blood Donation and Eligibility

Apheresis Platelet Donation

To be eligible to donate platelets someone must:

Be at least 17 years old.

Weigh at least 110 lbs.

Be in good health.

Not have taken aspirin in the past 48 hours.

Blood Donation and Eligibility

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.
Blood Donation and Eligibility

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.

Blood Donation and Eligibility

Double Red Cell Donation

To be eligible to donate double red cells someone must:

Be at least 17 years old.

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.
Blood Donation and Eligibility

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.

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?

Blood Donation: It Makes A Difference

Hospital patients
undergoing surgeries
and treatments can
require various amounts
of blood products.
Blood Donation: It Makes A Difference

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.
Blood Donation: It Makes A Difference

“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 go online to givebloodgivelife.org.