15 Facts About Blood

         Here are 15 Facts About Blood :
1. One pint of blood can save up to three lives.
2. Healthy adults who are at least 17 years old, 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, depending on iron levels. Females receive 53 percent of blood transfusions; males receive 47 percent.
3. 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.
4. One unit of blood can be separated into several components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate.
5. Red blood cells live about 120 days in the circulatory system. RBC carry oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues.
6. White cells are the body’s primary defense against infection.
7. Anemic patients need blood transfusions to increase their red blood cell levels.
8. hirteen tests (11 for infectious diseases) are performed on each unit of donated blood.
9. Four easy steps to donate blood: medical history, quick physical, donation and snacks.
10. Blood makes up about 7 percent of your body’s weight.
11. A newborn baby has about one cup of blood in his body.
12. Plasma, which is 90 percent water, makes up 55 percent of blood volume.
13. Platelets promote blood clotting and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
14. Blood or plasma that comes from people who have been paid for it cannot be used to human transfusion.
15. Granulocytes, a type of white blood cell, roll along blood vessel walls in search of bacteria to engulf and destroy.