Why is donating blood important to be a part of? Will you donate blood in your lifetime?

The cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to all the parts of your body.

Contain hemoglobin, an iron-containing substance to which oxygen binds.

The reaction between oxygen and the iron in hemoglobin gives blood its bright red color.

Once oxygen has diffused to tissues, blood becomes a dull red.

Red Blood Cells

Help protect you against diseases and foreign substances.

Larger than red blood cells, but far less numerous.

Some white blood cells make chemicals that help your body resist diseases such as cancer.

Others destroy invading microorganisms by surrounding and consuming them.

White Blood Cells

Cell fragments that play an important role in the blood clotting process.

When you get a cut, platelets stick to the edges of the cut and release proteins called clotting factors.

Clotting factors and other plasma proteins form a net of fibers across the cut.

The fibers trap more platelets and blood cells until a plug forms to seal the cut.

Platelets

A person’s blood type is determined by the proteins present on the surface of the red blood cells.

A person’s blood type can be type A, B, AB, or O.

Blood Types

A second blood type is determined by the presence or absence of the Rh factor protein.

If your red blood cells have the Rh factor, your blood is said to be Rh positive.

If your red blood cells lack the Rh factor, your blood is Rh negative.

About 85% of people are Rh positive.

Blood Types

After an injury, surgery, or some illness, a person may require a blood transfusion.

During a transfusion, blood from a donor is transferred to the patients bloodstream.

Donated blood is tested for blood type and microorganisms, such as those that cause hepatitis or AIDS.

If a patient is given the wrong blood type during a transfusion, the blood will clump together.

Transfusions

A A and O B B and O AB A, B, AB, and O O O

Transfusions