About Blood

About Blood

Blood is a lifesaving resource and there is no substitute for it. Scientists have tried to develop a synthetic alternative to blood but have thus far been unsuccessful in duplicating the life-sustaining properties that blood has. It can only come from volunteer donors. Each pint of donated blood can be broken down into components: red cells, plasma, and platelets to save up to three lives. Women have about ten pints and men have about 12 pints of blood in their bodies.

• Red Cells are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body and removing the carbon dioxide. Cancer, trauma and surgical patients as well as people who have blood disorders such as anemia, hemophilia require frequent transfusions.
• Platelets are tiny blood cells that act as clotting agents to help control bleeding. They make a huge difference to critically ill patients. They are vital in helping people to recover from leukemia, open-heart and transplant surgeries and for people who have blood disorders. Cancer patients often need platelet transfusions after receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy which often destroy healthy cells.
• Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood that acts as a transport system to carry all the blood cells, salts, sugars, proteins and nutrients throughout the body. Patients with severe infections, liver failure and serious burns are often transfused with plasma.