Donating blood is such a noble act. Many people come to the hospital to donate their blood hoping that they can be such a help for people who need it. Blood donation has been here for years. This noble and healthy act offers many benefits to the donator and people who receive it. You can learn more about the benefits at https://www.dondusang.net/quatre-bienfaits-que-pr%25c3%25a9sente-le-geste-gratuit-du-don-de-sang/. Also, blood donation has interesting facts and history. Let’s take a look at them. 

History of Blood Donation and Transfusions

We now know that countless donors regularly help keep needed blood on the shelves and preserve lives. It wasn’t always that simple. Blood transfusions have been studied since the 17th century. Some transfusions have been successfully performed on living beings. A couple who received minimal amounts of animal blood managed to survive, but those who received larger transfusions died. This caused transfusions to be banned in several nations, and for nearly 150 decades the idea of transfusions was discussed and generally discarded.

Facts About Blood Donation and Transfusions

Dr. Blundell went on to perform more transfusions and also develop better tools for the procedure. The first whole-body transfusion was performed in 1840, but even then many people died because the composition of the blood was not understood. Transfusions were therefore safer, but they had to be done with blood flowing directly from the donor to the recipient.

In 1910 it was discovered that an anticoagulant could be added to the blood, which was then stopped. In 1914, the first non-directed blood transfusion was performed. World War II gave surgeons and scientists the impetus to further improve transfusion. Thousands of wounded soldiers were saved by blood donations. The success of these transfusions led physicians to push for the creation of larger blood banks in the United States so that a continuous supply of blood could be used frequently in hospitals.

Blood Donation and Plasma Donation

The first blood bank system was created by the Soviet Union in the 1930s. Soon after, other community blood banks were opened throughout the country. By storing blood elements individually, blood flow could be preserved longer, which helped blood banks meet the needs of supply and demand. Since then, there have been many advances. Even better anticoagulants have been found, which have greatly improved shelf life. Collection techniques and materials have changed to ensure safe and effortless donation and storage.

The Use of Donated Blood

Once the blood has completely left the donor’s body, it is labeled, stored, and eventually transported. The tubes are then sent to a laboratory for testing. The blood is sorted and if found to be free of disease, stored in large refrigerated containers. Platelets, on the other hand, can simply be stored at room temperature and must be used within 5 days. Then, if necessary, the blood is taken to a hospital. From there, it is made available to a recipient with a compatible blood type.

Benefits of Blood Donation

Before the true nature of diseases and the value of blood were fully understood, doctors urged patients to bleed to treat various diseases. Although it may seem barbaric to us today, ancient physicians may have had the ideal idea. Recent studies show that frequent blood donation can increase a person’s overall well-being. Donating blood helps deplete excess iron stores in the body. There is also some research on blood donation and it is positive. Although these studies are considered inconclusive, there is still the overwhelming psychological benefit of blood donation.…