Blood Basics
The need is constant.
The gratification is instant.
Give blood.
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Blood. What is it?
There are four main components of blood.
▪ Red Blood Cells
▪ White Blood Cells
▪ Platelets
▪ Plasma
Blood. What is it?
Red Cells
Contain hemoglobin and carry
oxygen throughout the body
White Cells
Help fight infection
Blood. What is it?
Platelets
Help prevent massive blood loss
by helping blood to clot
Plasma
Liquid portion of blood that carries
platelets, red cells and proteins
throughout the body
Blood. What is it?
Blood Types
There are eight common blood types that include: A-, A+, B-, B+, O-,
O+, AB- and AB+.
Blood. What is it?
Blood Types
Blood type is an inherited trait. The chart below illustrates how blood
types are determined.
Blood. What is it?
Facts about blood
The average adult has 10 - 12 pints of blood in their body.
Blood is a perishable product with a shelf life of only 42 days and platelets only 5 days, so it must be
replenished constantly – there is simply no substitute.
Under normal circumstances, about every two seconds someone in America will need blood.
Who We Are and What We Do
The Red Cross provides blood for patients in need,
collecting more than 40 percent of the nation’s
supply.
Single largest blood supplier in the United States
Trusted provider for patients in more than 3,000 hospitals
Maintains a national blood inventory management system
Participates in Rare Donor Registry
Who We Are and What We Do
Other lines of service:
Disaster Services – Each year the Red Cross responds to more than 75,000 disasters – locally, nationally
and worldwide. These services are free, a donated gift of the American people.
Armed Forces Emergency Services – The Red Cross operates an around-the-clock, around-the-world
emergency communication network for the men and women of the armed forces and their families.
Who We Are and What We Do
Health and Safety Outreach – The Red Cross has offered health and safety education for more than 90
years, helping to save lives and strengthen communities. Currently, the Red Cross provides training in:
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First Aid/CPR/AED
Aquatics (lifeguarding, water safety)
Caregiving (babysitter’s training, family caregiving)
HIV/AIDS Education
International Humanitarian Services – A global network works to restore hope and dignity to the world’s
most vulnerable people. International Services focuses on the following priority areas:
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International Tracing
International Humanitarian Law
Malaria and Measles Initiatives
Disaster Preparedness and Response
Blood Donation and Eligibility
Whole Blood Donation
A unit of whole blood is collected
from a volunteer donor.
After donation, the whole blood
unit is separated into components.
Blood Donation and Eligibility
Whole Blood Donation
The entire process lasts about 1 hour.
Donors can give every 56 days, up to 6 times per year.
Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days.
Blood Donation and Eligibility
Whole Blood Donation
To be eligible to donate whole blood someone must:
Be 17 years old or 16 with a signed Red Cross parental/guardian consent form where state permits.
Weigh at least 110 lbs.
Be in good health.
Blood Donation and Eligibility
Apheresis Platelet Donation
Platelet donation is an automated
process where blood is drawn
from a donor’s arm into a special
machine. This machine separates
the platelets and some plasma and
returns the remaining blood
components to the donor.
Blood Donation and Eligibility
Apheresis Platelet Donation
The entire platelet donation process lasts about 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
Donors can give up to 24 times a year.
Platelets have a shelf life of 5 days.
Blood Donation and Eligibility
Apheresis Platelet Donation
To be eligible to donate platelets someone must:
Be at least 17 years old.
Weigh at least 110 lbs.
Be in good health.
Not have taken aspirin in the past 48 hours.
Blood Donation and Eligibility
Double Red Cell Donation
An automated process where the
red blood cells are separated by a
machine and reserved while the
remaining blood components are
returned to the donor.
Blood Donation and Eligibility
Double Red Cell Donation
The entire double red cell donation process lasts about 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Donors can give every 112 days up to 3 times per year.
Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days.
Blood Donation and Eligibility
Double Red Cell Donation
To be eligible to donate double red cells someone must:
Be at least 17 years old.
Males: Weigh 150 lbs. or more and be 5’1” or taller.
Females: Weigh 175 lbs. or more and be 5’5” or taller.
Be in good health.
Blood Donation and Eligibility
Steps in the Donation Process
Registration
Health History and Mini-physical
Donation
Refreshments
Blood Safety
The blood supply is safer today than it has
ever been.
Because blood is a prescription drug, it is regulated carefully by the Food and Drug Administration.
In addition to the FDA requirements, the American Red Cross has implemented many safety precautions.
About 12 tests are performed on every blood donation.
Blood Donation: It Makes A Difference
What happens to blood after donation?
Blood Donation: It Makes A Difference
Hospital patients
undergoing surgeries
and treatments can
require various amounts
of blood products.
Blood Donation: It Makes A Difference
Who is helped by blood donation?
Every day more than 38,000 blood products are needed to treat people with serious medical conditions –
people like Elise.
Elise was born with a life-threatening heart defect. In order to save her life, Elise had to undergo an eighthour surgery to fix her heart defect. She required 22 units of whole blood and clotting factors to make her
body strong enough for surgery.
Blood Donation: It Makes A Difference
“Thank you to all of the donors
who help people like Elise, who so
desperately need a second chance
at life.”
-Terri Punke, Elise’s Mom
To find out more about how you can help
save lives by donating blood or sponsoring
a blood drive, please call 1.800.GIVE.LIFE
or go online to givebloodgivelife.org.