Blood Donations

throw away you rescue somebodys life lately? Did you admit that you grass aid three population who struggle to survive by giving an hour of your day? I wasnt aw ar of how many a(prenominal) muckle I can jock until t present was a daub drive at my high school. The short letter drive was run by the ARUP Blood Services and I wise(p) a ton ab f in all expose seizeating seam. Before you give you can smatter to a re poseative and learn more intimately donating seam. I in condition(p) that the smear donated can be sto inflamed for nigh 28 days until it goes bad. The phlebotomist told me stemma donations argon given to several patients who need transfusions to live.If there be many volume donating it can be a long process, nevertheless its worth the wait until the end because they testament provide you with a shape of snacks, treats and drinks. If you are a tidy candidate, you can donate one dry pint of your seam that can uphold three different stack. A heal thy donor can donate pipeline every 56 days. agree the American red ink Cross If you began donating daub at age 17 and donated every 56 days until you reached 76, you would assimilate donated 48 gallons of tear, potentially constituent save more than 1,000 lives Think about it.The complex smear inner(a) our bodies can be used for a number of peoples lives you can help save them. You can be a crampfish to those in need by donating your inception. We talk about donating smear, but people typically dont know the fundamentals of cable. Its burning(prenominal) to understand blood and what it does. So, what is blood? Its the red liquid that oozes out when you scrape your arm or leg. Thats what we see and thats what people say. But if you take the time to study or learn about blood, youll see that there are four different components red blood cells, w readye blood cells, platelets, and plasma.Each component has a different function. The red blood cells function is to carry b lood and atomic number 8 to other tissues and organs in the body. flushed blood cells contain hemoglobin, a substance that is iron rich, which binds to the atomic number 8 in your lungs and then carried by arteries. White blood cells main utilisation is to defend your body against foreign invaders much(prenominal) as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Platelets help blood vessels when there is a outrage. The platelets willing coagulate, or clot, around the wound and plug up the vessel so that blood does not escape valve out the injury.Plasma is straw-yellow colored liquid in the blood and is composed of a variety of substances. Our plasma contains nutrients, such vitamins, proteins, amino acids, salts, sugar and more which are essential to the work of all bodily cells (Avraham Litin). Avraham states plasma ensures the body of fit balance of these nutrient, (46). All these components of blood are necessary for the proper functioning of our bodies. We need each part of our blood to work properly in order to live a healthy lifestyle.Although all blood is authorise up of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma, the blood of all people is not the same. Blood types were unknown until 1901, when Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian physician, discovered the figurehead of blood meetings. Landsteiner found three throngs A, B and O that contained one (A or B) or neither (O) of ii antigens on the surface of red blood cells. Importantly, he found that people receiving mismatched transfusions made destructive antibodies against the blood-borne antigens that werent theirs (Shugart).Blood types and groups follow into four categories A B AB and O. Each group has different antigens and antibodies. Antigens are a substance that stimulates the antibody. Antibodies are a arrange cell that will either set on an antigen or let it pass. lot who take on blood type A dumbfound A antigens and antibodies that attack B antigens, and those who have t ype B have B antigens and have antibodies that attack A antigens. Those who are type AB have both(prenominal) antigens and type O has no antigens. Every group is divided into two groups, positive and negative.The factor that depends on another antigen called the rhesus. Those who have the rhesus antigen are positive and those who dont are negative (Litin, 1060-1062). Its racy for people to receive blood from the same blood type or the consequences may be fatal. So lets say you have B antigens in your blood and have no rhesus antigens, you would be considered B-. Transfusing a patient with blood, that is not the same type as that person, can be very dangerous because he or she may have antibodies that will attack and reject the foreign antigens that have entered the body.In the process, they may degrade the red blood cells in the recipients blood (Avraham, 52-54). When blood is donated, several tests are run and those testing the blood are sufficient to figure out what blood type you are. Knowing what blood group you belong in is important because the necessity for blood can exchange in different places of the world. According to ARUP, this t competent represents which blood types are able to receive blood from different groups. Blood transfusions date back to the seventeenth century. It was first practiced by two dogs. Then in 1667, french physician Jean Baptist Denis made the jump to humans.He transfused 9 ounces of sheeps blood into a teenage boy by attaching the animals carotid artery to the boys arm. The boy survived the ordeal, prompting Denis to complete the procedure on several other patients until, eventually, one died. The death triggered a backlash against blood transfusion, leading several countries to ban it, (Shugart). Then cl years later, the first transfusion between humans was recorded. James Blundell, a physiologist, took several different blood donors and mixed them together and injected the mixture into a patient suffering from intern al bleeding.The patient felt well, but passed external three days later. The cause of the delayed fatal reaction wouldnt be understood until the next century, (Shugart). Blood transfusing would remain a hit or miss until the next century when Landsteiner discovered the blood types. During the hold water century scientists and biotech companies have been studying ways to create artificial blood. A substance called polyheme was used as a substitute to carry oxygen cells. Unfortunately, trauma patients receiving the PolyHeme infusions turned out to be slightly more probable to die of their injuries compared with patients infused with real blood (13.2 percent versus 10 percent) (Shugart).After discovering that artificial blood did not help patients whatsoever, many companies quit researching. Not only does blood need oxygen carrying cells, it also use ups other tasks. Blood contains platelets and clotting factors that help stop internal bleeding white blood cells to fight transmit ting and electrolytes needed for organ and muscle function. Because blood is very complex, creating artificial blood will take lots of studying and research. When it comes to blood, so far character knows best, (Shugart). There are many ways to donate blood.Many companies are present in every state such as the American Red Cross. Or there are private blood banks such as the ARUP Blood Services. Because the need for blood donations is always in occupy, many companies are flexible with times and scheduling appointments. The process is very simple. First things that buy the farm when you check in are that they verify your information. Then they give you a book for you to review that have information regarding diseases and medications that can alter you blood. age you reading the book you are given a questionnaire that you must answer to help verify your eligibility to donate blood.When the questionnaire is all do and youve read the book, the sop up in charge will call you back and take you into a room and run a few vital signs. That person will check your blood pressure, temperature, pulse and will check your red blood count. In order for them to check your red blood count is that they dirt you finger with a junior-grade phonograph needle and obtain a small sample in a blood in a subatomic tube and run it through a centrifuge. The centrifuge separates the red blood cells from the plasma and then the nurse will measure it.Before the nurse leaves the room, she gives you two stickers, a red and honey oil one. The nurse will describe that the red and green one have different purposes and that you will have to select one confidentially. The red sticker indicates that you do not want your blood to be used. Maybe you have lied about something, felt pressured to donate blood when you didnt want too or have done something recently that may affect your blood and you didnt want anybody to know. The green sticker represents that you feel like your blood is safe an d want your blood to be used.Choosing the sticker is done confidentially and afterwards you step out of the room to find the nurse. As soon as you find the nurse, he or she will sit you down comfortably on their chairs and you will be ready to donate your blood. In the United States, an estimated 37 percent of Americans are worthy to donate. However, only ten percent actually donate. What about the other 27 percent of people? Well ask yourself, Have I ever thought about donating blood? The two intimately common reasons for not donating blood are that people have never given it the thought, or they are terrified of needles (American Red Cross).Ive encountered many friends and family members who do not want to donate blood because they have a vexation of needles. They say they dont want to get poked because its nettlesome or the might faint by the sight of a needle inside their arm. Some people think that they are not eligible when they really are. Those who have gotten a piercin g or tattoo are not eligible to donate for a year because of safety precaution. Precautions such as risk with coming into contact with HIV, or AIDs prevent eligibility from the use on non-sterile needles (Moisse).Because donating blood is only done by volunteers, people may feel like theyre not obligated to donate. Its true people dont have to donate blood. Donating blood may not seem like a big deal, but it helps saves lives every day. The need for blood is always in high demand because accidents happen, and you cant always expect them. According to the American Red Cross, a single car accident victim may require as many as 100 pints of blood. Donating blood makes a difference. look at Brennah Payne, shes a 14 year old teenager who was tortuous in a car accident at age seven.The accompanying broke her spine in half(a), fractured her face, ruptured her bowels, suffered major internal bleeding, and went through gild major surgeries, and 22 other medical procedures throughout th e next sixsome months (Shugart). Brennah Payne stated I remember tubes coming into me, but I dont really remember what was in them, now I know that the things that were in them kept me alive There were so many people helping me, and I didnt really know why. I tho knew that I felt love from them, and it made me happy because without them I wouldnt be here today, (Shugart).Today, Brennah is a healthy teenager and a war-ridden runner on her schools cross country team. Although she has recovered from the accident that occurred half a lifetime ago, she has never forgotten how the generosity of blood donors saved her life, (Shugart). Blood donations have changes Brennahs life. You can be that person to make an impact on somebodys life. Although patients, who receive your blood, may not know who you are, they will appreciate the effort giving to donating blood. If youve ever big(a) up wanting to be a hero to others in need, heres your chance.