By Jay Q on December 30th, 2010
Just some random facts that you might not already know about blood.
- Blood accounts for about 7% of the human body weight.
- Two million red blood cells die every second.
- Three to four lives can be saved by every pint of blood donated.
- About 1 in 7 people who enter hospital will need blood.
- White blood cells are the body’s primary defense against infections.
- Most donated blood can be stored for around 42 days.
- Donated platelets can be stored for about 5 days.
- Frozen plasma can be stored for about 1 year.
- Frozen blood cells can be stored for 5 years or more.
- It takes 8 weeks to restore the iron lost after donating.
- A new born baby has about 1 cup of blood in his body.
- The average lifespan of a single red blood cell is 120 days.
- The three main types of cells that make up our blood are white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.
- White blood cells are the largest of cells that make up our blood.
- Type AB plasma is considered to be the universal blood plasma type.
- Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to all of our body.
- Every 2 seconds, someone will be needing blood.
- A healthy donor may donate blood every 56 days.
- People with O- type blood are universal donors, meaning this type of blood can be given to any patient.
- The #1 reason why donors chose to donate was because “want to help others”.
- One out of three people will need a blood transfusion during their lifetime.