BLOOD FACTS
1. Blood is the life-maintaining fluid that circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins and capillaries.
2. Blood carries to the body nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen.
3. Blood carries away from the body waste matter and carbon dioxide.
4. Blood fights against infection and helps heal wounds, keeping you healthy.
5. Blood makes up about 7% of your body's weight.
6. A newborn baby has about one cup of blood in his or her body.
7. White blood cells are the body's primary defence against infection.
8. Granulocytes, a type of white blood cell, roll along blood vessel walls to search and destroy bacteria.
9. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.
10. There are about one billion red blood cells in two to three drops of blood.
11. Red blood cells live about 120 days in the circulatory system.
12. Blood platelets help clotting and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
13. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
14. Type O-negative blood (red cells) can be transfused to patients of all blood types. It is always in great
demand and often in short supply.
15. Type AB-positive plasma can be transfused to patients of all other blood types. AB plasma is also usually in short supply.
16. If you began donating blood at age 18 and donated every 90 days until you reached 60, you would have donated 30 gallons of blood, potentially helping save more than 500 lives!
17. There are four main blood types: A, B, AB and O.In 1901, Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian physician, discovers the first three human blood groups. On his birthday i.e June 14th "World Blood Donors Day" celebrates. On October 1st ‘National Blood Donation Day’ celebrates in India.
18. Just three teaspoons of blood can be enough to save the life of a premature baby.
19. The first successful blood transfusion was carried out in 1665 between two animals.
20. The four different human blood groups were discovered in 1900 after people kept dying unexpectedly following a blood transfusion.
21. The World’s first blood bank was established in Leningrad in 1932.
22. 51% of the population have type O blood, this is the type needed with the most urgency
23. Popular legend states that your blood group, much like your star sign, can determine your personality.
24. Red cells, white cells and platelets are made in the marrow of bones, especially in the vertebrae, ribs, hips, skull and sternum.
25. Plasma is a pale yellow mixture of water, protein, and salts. One of its primary functions is to carry blood cells, nutrients, enzymes, hormones, certain gases and waste products.
26. Red cells are disk-shaped cells containing hemoglobin, a red protein that contains iron. Hemoglobin enables
the cells to pick up and deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. Red cells also take carbon dioxide to the lungs, where it is exhaled.
27. White cells are the body’s primary defense against infection. They have the ability to move out of the blood stream and reach tissue being invaded.
28. Platelets are small blood cells that control bleeding. They form clusters to plug holes in blood vessels and assist in the clotting process when the vessels are severely damaged.
29. HIV testing was introduced in 1984 and testing for hepatitis C was introduced in 1991.
30. Type O-negative blood is needed in emergencies before the patient's blood type is known and with newborns who need blood.
