Did you know that 52% of Canadians have needed or know someone who has needed blood? Did you know that 50 blood donors are needed to save one person who has been in a car accident? Did you know that every minute, someone in Canada needs blood?
There is an ongoing need for blood. Blood and blood products are used in surgeries, in cancer treatments, and in managing diseases. There are four components that make up whole blood: red and white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body and remove carbon dioxide from the lungs. White blood cells defend against infections. After blood donation, white blood cells are removed from the blood because they carry viruses and bacteria. Plasma carries nutrients throughout the body and brings waste out. It makes up about 55% of blood. Platelets create clots to control bleeding.
There are eight different blood types that determine what blood can be donated to whom. These eight blood types are categorized by ABO blood types (A, B, O, and AB) and Rh types (positive and negative). People can receive blood from donors with the same ABO and Rh type as them. Recipients with a positive Rh can receive blood from either positive or negative Rh donors. Recipients with a negative Rh can only receive blood from donors with a negative Rh. People with AB blood can receive from any ABO type, while people with O blood can donate to any ABO type. This makes O negative blood the universal donor, as they can donate to recipients of their own blood type and of all the other ones. O- blood is used in emergencies when medical professionals do not have the time to test a person’s blood type. AB positive blood is the universal recipient. AB+ can receive blood from a donor of any blood type. In Canada, the most common blood type is O+ followed by A+, while the least common is AB-.
To donate blood, you need to be at least 17 years old and in good general health. Between the ages of 17 and 23 years old, you also need to meet certain height and weight requirements. There are also other factors that may affect your eligibility to donate blood, detailed on the Canadian Blood Services website. A standard blood donation is about 450 mL. The day of the blood donation appointment, the donor needs to complete a confidential questionnaire to determine their eligibility. Every donor is also tested for their hemoglobin level to make sure that the donor does not become ill and for the quality of the red blood cells, along with their temperature and blood pressure. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes for the actual blood collection, and the needles used are disposable and sterile. After the donation is finished, donors can rest for a few minutes, then go get a complimentary drink and a snack. The whole process takes just over an hour, but it can save the life of someone in need.
