8,000 units of blood are needed every day to meet hospital demand in the UK. Blood comes in four main types – O, A, B and AB. Group O is the most common which means it is in high demand. Blood can also be subdivided into its main components – red cells, white cells, platelets and plasma. Unfortunately red cells only have a shelf-life of 35 days, while platelets shelf life is even less, only five days.
Source: About Blood @ Give Blood
Tools
- Register as a blood donor online or call 0300 123 23 23.
Photo: Medical professionals perform a specialist kidney operation for the first time in Tonga. The medical team are part of an AusAID-funded Pacific Islands Program (PIP) team visiting Tonga. by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under Creative Commons license