Blood Facts

• There is no substitute for human Blood
• Blood makes up about 7% of your body's weight.
• An average adult has about 14 to 18 pints of Blood.
• One standard unit or pint of Blood equals about two cups.
• Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to all of the body.
• Blood carries carbon dioxide and other waste products back to the lungs, kidneys and liver for disposal.
• Blood fights against infection and helps heal wounds.
• One unit of donated whole Blood is separated into components before use (red Blood cells, white Blood cells, plasma, platelets, etc.)
• There are four main Blood types: A, B, AB and O.
• Each Blood type is either Rh positive or negative.
• There are about one billion red Blood cells in a few drops of whole Blood.
• Red Blood cells live about 120 days in our bodies.
• Red Blood cells can be stored under normal conditions for up to 42 days.
• Frozen red Blood cells can be stored for ten years, and more.
• Platelets must be used within five days.
• Platelets are small Blood cells that assist in the process of Blood clotting helping those with leukemia and other cancers, controlling bleeding.
• Plasma, the fourth major component of Blood, is a sticky, pale yellow fluid mixture of water, protein and salts. It is 95% water. The other 5% is made up of nutrients, proteins and hormones.
• Blood Plasma constitutes 55% of the volume of human Blood.
• Plasma helps maintain Blood pressure, carries Blood cells, nutrients, enzymes and hormones, and supplies critical proteins for Blood clotting and immunity.
• Type AB plasma has been considered as the universal Blood plasma type, and therefore AB plasma is given to patients with any Blood type.
• Frozen Plasma can be stored for up to one year.
• Human Blood; red Blood cells, white Blood cells, plasma and platelets are made naturally by the body in the bone marrow.