Why Do Blood Banks Work?

In conclusion, there are many reason why donating blood is something everyone. In the United States an average of 40,000 units of blood are needed every day. Around 60% of population will need blood at some time in their lives, yet only around 5% of the population will actually donate blood. If all eligible donors will donate on a regular basis, which I six to four times a year, all blood needs would be meet and blood shortages would be a thing of the

Each sample was tested before it was shipped. He took every possible measure to avoid poor handling and contamination of blood plasma. He closely monitored the shipments of these life-saving plasmas to treat war casualties. For five months, “Blood for Britain” project ran successfully with approximately 15000 people turning donors and approximately 5,000 vials of blood plasma collected.

Plasma is used to keep a healthy blood pressure, supplying proteins for blood clotting and immunity, and serves as the medium for the exchange of vital minerals. It is attained by separating the liquid part of the blood from the cells. Dr. Charles Drew set up a blood plasma system in 1938; he set up a blood bank at Columbia Medical Center by 1939. Drew then discovered that plasma could replace whole blood; this discovery played a huge role during the war in places with severe atrocities. Blood was in high demand in 1940 as war raged across Europe. The International Transfusion Association chose Dr. Drew to organize the Blood for Britain project. This project collected, processed, and transported 14,500 units of plasma within five months. The research of Dr. Drew transformed plasma transfusion so plasma could be given on the battlefield immediately. Dr. Drew was appointed Director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank in February 1941. This plasma collection and preservation program is a model for today’s blood donation organizations. When the program ended in September 1945, the American Red Cross had gathered over 13 million units of blood and transformed most of it into plasma. By the end of the war, 1.3 million plasma units were returned to the American Red Cross, which were given to civilian hospitals (World War

After graduating college in 1926, Charles Drew was later on enrolled to a medical school-McGill University- in Montreal, Canada, 1928. After studying in several colleges in Canada, Charles Drew returned to the United States and, in 1938, he went to Columbia University where Charles Drew continued exploring blood-related matters. It was there where Charles Drew discovered to process and preserve blood without its cells or plasma in it. Because of this new thesis and method he created, Charles Drew received his doctorate degree in 1940, and a degree in Doctor of Medical Science. During the late 1940’s, Charles Drew was recruited by a medical doctor, John Shudder, to set up a program where donors could donate their blood, and it will be preserved

The Red Cross provides blood for patients in approximately 2,600 hospitals across the U.S. The Red Cross makes blood available to any patient who needs it — patients are not required to find donors to replace the blood they use allowing the patient and their family to focus on recovery. Eighty percent of the blood donations given to the Red Cross are collected at mobile blood drives set up at community organizations, companies, high schools, and colleges, places of worship or military installations. The remaining 20 percent are collected at Red Cross donation centers. The American Red Cross works with more than 50,000 blood drive sponsors each year to hold more than 200,000 blood drives, providing convenient locations for people to give

Drew helped collect roughly 14,500 pints of plasma In 1941, Drew developed a blood bank to be used for U.S. military personnel, but Drew was unhappy with the military's request for segregating the blood donated by African Americans. At first, the military did not want to use blood from African Americans, but they later said it could only be used for African-American soldiers. Drew was outraged by this racist policy, and resigned his post after only a few months. He returned to Howard University and became chair of the Department of Surgery and Chief of Surgery at Freedmen's Hospital.

Meeting the demand for blood in the United States is no small feat. Every two seconds someone is in need of blood in the United States and 36,000 units of red blood cell each day. Furthermore, there are many reasons that a person may not be able to donate blood, resulting in only 38% of the population being eligible to donate blood. (“Blood Facts”) Therefore, a policy that allows more people to donate blood is intuitive.

He went out of his way to benefit others. Drew set up the world’s first large blood bank. Drew always tried his best despite how overwhelming the task seemed. He always thought about the lives he knew would be saving. He put in whatever it took whether it was long nights, shorter mornings, or restless days to get the job done. He did not complain but only took the overload of work.

“I feel that the recent ruling of the United States Army and Navy regarding the refusal of colored blood donors is an indefensible one from any point of view. As you know, there is no scientific basis for the separation of the bloods of different races except on the basis of the individual blood types or groups.” This famous quote is from Charles Drew, an African American surgeon, teacher, and doctor. Charles was a surgeon and was a big part of transfusion in WW1.

Dr. Charles Drew; “The Father of the Blood Bank” had a very large impact on the world of medicine although it was very difficult because of the color of his skin. He paved his way through the barriers of racism that surrounded him and accomplished many things. Dr. Drew was best known for his work with blood plasma, which resulted in the creation of the American Red Cross Blood Banks, and the success of the Blood for Britain project. Through his research Dr. Drew was able to save lives and provide an effective way to store blood so it could be used at a later time. Although it was tragedy that brought Dr. Drew to medicine, it was his perseverance that helped him become great.

blood to England. He organized the collection and processing of blood plasma from several New York hospitals, and the shipments of these life-saving materials overseas to treat casualties in the war. Drew helped collect roughly 14,500 pints of plasma for the American Red Cross (“The Charles R. Drew Papers”). In February 1941, Drew was appointed director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank, in charge of blood for use by the U.S. Army and Navy. He worked on developing a blood bank to be used for U.S. military personnel. Soon after, Drew became frustrated with the military's request for segregating the blood donated by African Americans. During this time, Drew agitated the authorities to stop excluding the blood of African-Americans from plasma-supply networks, and in 1942, he resigned his official posts after the armed forces ruled that the blood of African-Americans would be accepted but would have to be stored separately from that of whites (Sluby

“Sick children whose parents did bank their blood sometimes cannot be used (Moniger, 67). Many blood banks do not tell parents that if their children may develop a cancer or a disease early on in their life that they may not be able to use the cord blood because the blood may be diseased. This risk is one of the main risks that deter parents from paying the cost for banking. Another negative aspect of cord blood collection and banking is that if a mother who delivers twins would like to collect and store her children’s cord blood, she would not be able to. Both babies may have a different cord tissue type and they may be mixed during the collection process making them virtually useless” (The Truth about Cord Blood Banking- Lucie's list, n.d.) . Also, If the mother ever had cancer, she can not have her child’s blood collected. This is because doctors do not want the possibility of the cord blood to be contaminated with the cancer which in turn will contaminate the patient receiving

Cord Blood Banking is now a huge epidemic nationally. What was once considered to be medical waste is now what is considered a medical breakthrough. Cord blood is stored in two types of banks, both having their benefits and negative aspects. There are many benefits and positive aspects that accompany the banking cord blood. Many of these benefits include but are not limited to the treatment of many life threatening diseases and disorders such as cerebral palsy and childhood cancer such as leukemia. With positives benefits there also come negative aspects. Many of these include who can receive the transplant, the cost of cord blood, the simple fact that the child who the blood came from may never be able to receive that cord blood, and also

It is very important for everyone to find out which blood type he has. A blood type test is the first thing should always be performed before a person receives a blood transfusion, donates blood, donates an organ for transplant, or undergoes surgery. For women who is trying to become pregnant it is necessary to know her blood type. It is possible for pregnant woman and her fetus to have different blood types. If the mother’s blood type is RH-negative and the baby’s is RH-positive, the mother’s immune system may develop antibodies that will attack the baby’s blood cells.

What is the gift that I can give that will save someone’s life? Why of course, it is the gift of giving blood. Blood is an amazing fluid that feeds, takes away the waste and carries oxygen to all cells in our body (Holt, Rinehart, and Winston 182). So, why give blood and what do I need to do to contribute. Blood donations are used in various ways, such as transfusions, research, medical emergencies or trauma. Blood drives take place day in and day out to help supply the constant need of blood. Knowing some facts and the use of blood, may change my mind on why I should give. Blood is our body’s transportation system of nutrients and can be a gift for saving someone’s life.