Safe Blood Starts with Me - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

Backgrounder issued by PAHO/AMRO for WHD 2000:Questions and answers about bloodWhat is blood?The average adult has 10–12pints (or about 5 liters) of blood.Since it contains living cells, bloodneeds the nourishment provided byvitamins and minerals. Blooddelivers essential ingredientsthroughout the body and removeswastes and disease. Blood iscomposed of trillions of tiny cellssuspended in a straw-colored clearliquid called plasma. Forty-fivepercent of these cells are red bloodcells, which carry oxygen from thelungs to all parts of the body. Forevery 100 reds, there is one whitecell; white blood cells fight diseaseand infections. The liquid plasmacarries these solid cells and theplatelets that help blood clot. Whenyou experience a minor cut, theplatelets cause the blood to clot.The bleeding stops. And, becausenew blood is always being madeinside of your bones, the bodyreplaces the lost blood. But if youlose a lot of blood through a majorwound, in surgery, or throughdisease, your body can’t manu—facture enough replacement bloodquickly. You have to get a bloodtransfusion, using blood from otherpeople.Who can donate blood fortransfusions?Professional interviewers screenpotential blood donors before theydonate. Donors must be healthyindividuals who lead a healthy lifestyle,be 17 years or older, andweigh at least 110 pounds. Healthymeans that a donor must be free ofmajor cold, flu and allergy symp—toms. Acceptable donors can’t havehad a blood-transmitted infectionsuch as hepatitis or Chagas disease.Nor can they have had any riskbehaviors associated with HIV orAIDS.Why is donated blood safe?The blood donation is made understerile conditions, labeled, andimmediately sent to a laboratory forrigorous testing—and re-testing. It isthen sent to a blood bank, whichacts as a distribution center forhospitals, clinics, etc.Why should I be a blooddonor?There is no easier way for you tosave lives on a regular basis. Afterdonating, your body replaces theplasma in about a day, and the othercomponents within a few weeks.You can donate blood every eightweeks. And chances are, you maybe helping yourself: you have a onein five chance of needing donatedblood at least once during yourlifetime.What type of risk is therefor someone who donatesblood?Donating blood is not risky. Theneedle that withdraws the blood isnew and sterile. It is used only foryour donation, then thrown away.There is no chance of getting aninfectious disease such as AIDSwhile giving blood. The bones in yourbody continually make blood; ifyou’re healthy, then it is very safeto donate a unit without major sideeffects.26 ▲ WORLD HEALTH DAY ▼ SAFE BLOOD STARTS WITH ME