The Dwindling Blood Supply

Paper Summary:

The writer details the different blood types which are in critically low supply, while explaining that blood is the fluid of life, transporting oxygen from lungs to body tissue, and extracting carbon dioxide from body tissue to lungs. The paper goes on to explain the different types of donations needed, including double red cell donation which is an automated procedure that allows one person to give two units of red blood cells, resulting in one donation helping two patients.

From the Paper:

"There are four main components, red blood cells, platelets, plasma, and white blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to body tissues and remove carbon dioxide. A red blood cell has a flat, disk like shape. It resembles a doughnut with a thinner middle and thicker edges. There are approximately one billion red blood cells in two to three drops of blood. Platelets are disk like structures that help stop bleeding. For example if a blood vessel is cut, platelets together and form around the edge of the cut, a plug like stopper. After donation, platelets have a shelf life of only 5 days. Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood, a protein-salt solution in which red and white blood cells and platelets are suspended. It makes up about 50 to 60 percent of the total volume of blood. Plasma serves a variety of functions, from maintaining a satisfactory blood pressure and volume to supplying critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity. White blood cells are responsible for protecting the body from invasion by foreign substances such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. Most of the cells are round and colorless. White blood cells produce proteins called anti-bodies that destroy bacteria and viruses. In the blood stream, there is only one white blood cell for every 600 red cells."

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