 |
What do we do with the blood? |
• Nowadays, when you give blood, you are helping at least three people. This is because each bag of blood is separated into three different ones, each of which is used by a different person.
• One of these bags contains the red blood cells (erythrocytes) that distribute oxygen around your body and which are needed if there is a loss of blood. This is the case with complex surgical operations or when a patient is involved in a serious accident. The bags of red blood cells are stored in a refrigerator at 4ºC for up to a maximum of 42 days. Unfortunately, no bag actually remains there this long: they are all used before their shelf life is up.
• Another bag contains the plasma, the liquid part of the blood, which is needed by people with liver problems. Thanks to plasma transfusions, some children born without defences are able to live without suffering serious infections. In this case, the plasma is kept frozen at -30ºC and lasts for up to one year. None of the bags are actually kept frozen for this maximum period because large quantities of plasma are required.
• The third bag contains the platelets. These are very small blood cells needed to prevent haemorrhaging in people who do not have them. In fact, many of the transplants carried out today, especially bone marrow transplants, were developed thanks to platelet transfusion. Platelets are stored at 22ºC for up to five days. Because of their short shelf life and the fact that large quantities are required for transfusions, platelets are the scarcest component of blood. Automated systems have now been developed to allow donors to give only platelets.
|
• So you see, with a simple prick and the ten minutes it takes to give blood, you are carrying out a voluntary and altruistic act that will help at least three people. Sometimes, however, donors can help many more people, depending on their blood type. |
|
|
|
