Quick facts on blood and blood donation

1. There is no substitute for human blood.
2. The shelf life of blood is 30 days.
3. An average adult between the age of 16-65years, in good health and weigh over 50kg is fit to donate blood ,however one can still donate blood after 65years if certified medically fit.
4. Males can safely donate blood every 12 weeks, and females every 16 weeks.
5. 55% of blood donated is used to treat anaemia in children and mothers during pregnancy and child birth.
6. 60% of blood is collected from high school children.

7. All equipment and needles used during donation are sterilized and sealed, therefore no risk of infection to the donor.
8. All donated blood is screened for disease including HIV/AIDS. Contaminated blood is discarded.
9. A donor's health status is highly confidential and can only be released to the donor himself/ herself on request and after counseling.
10. The demand for blood in Kenya is currently 200,000 units a year against a collection of 130,000 units leaving a shortfall of 70,000 units a year.
11. Four main red blood cell types: A, B, AB and O. Each can be positive or negative for the Rhesus factor. AB is the universal recipient; O negative is the universal donor of red blood cells.
12. Dr. Karl Landsteiner first identified the major human blood groups – A, B, AB and O – in 1901.
13. A single unit of blood can be separated into several components: red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets.
14. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.
15. Red blood cells live about 120 days in the circulatory system.
16. Platelets promote blood clotting and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
17. Plasma is a pale yellow mixture of water, proteins and salts.
18. Plasma, which is 90 percent water, makes up 55 percent of blood volume.
19. Healthy bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells, plasma and platelets.
20. The rarest blood type is the one not on the shelf when it’s needed by a patient.
21. The actual blood donation usually takes just about 10 minutes to 45.
22. After donating blood, you replace the fluid in hours and the blood cells within two weeks.
23. 10 pints: amount of blood in the body of an average adult.
24. Blood makes up about 7 percent of your body's weight.
25. A newborn baby has about one cup of blood in his body.