Well, I gave some platelets Friday. Giving blood these days is so easy and relatively painless – well I do have some stories but I won’t go into them here. I figure it’s like changing the oil – out with the old, give some new better stuff a chance to grow.
So – what do you know about blood, donating blood or getting a transfusion?

1) Most everyone knows that blood is divided into types. How many types are there?
a) 8
b) 4
c) 12
d) 16

2) Which blood type is known as the universal donor?
a) AB+
b) B-
c) O-
d) A+

3) The first transfusion of human blood took place in what year?
a) 1910
b) 1938
c) 1767
d) 1818

4) Early on other liquids were transfused into human beings. Which of these liquids was used during that period?
a) cow’s milk
b) clear water
c) orange juice
d) tomato juice

5) Storage of blood was made possible by the development of
a) plastic blood holders
b) anti-coagulant
c) faster transport methods
d) anti-biotics

6) So a vampire attacks you with the objective of draining all your blood. How much can he get? (of course it’s a male vampire!)
a) 6 pints
b) 12 to 14 pints
c) 8 to 10 pints
d) 8 to 16 pints.

7) We transfuse HOW much blood a year in the US?
a) 1 million units(pints) per year
b) 30 million units/year
c) 50 million units/year
d) 15 million units/year

8) Each donation of whole blood can help how many people?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

9) What time of year do blood banks experience short supply?
a) end of the school year
b) Summer and winter holidays
c) spring planting
d) fall harvest

10) How old do you have to be to give blood, anyway?
a) 14
b) 21
c) 25
d) 17

Bloody hell? You want answers? First let me put in a plug – give blood – it’s good for you.

1) a) 8 – A, AB, B and O each with a + or – factor = 8 types
2) c) O- We (yes I am one) can give to everyone but only receive from ourselves
3) d) 1818 for a post-partum hemorrhage. But it was a century plus in perfecting.
4) a) cow’s milk – really! Saline water was also used – neither successfully – also human and goat’s milk
5) b) before anti-coagulants blood needed to be transfused pretty much directly
6) c) 8 to 10 pints. Quite a bit more than a 2 liter.
7) b) 30 million units per year – that is a bunch. Donated by about 10 million donors
8) c) 3 for whole blood.
9) b) the holidays – especially Christmas – usually are short supply. Hint – guess what? They’ll be needing some soon.
10) d) 17.

I got roped into giving blood for a hemophiliac friend shortly after I turned 18. I have been giving for nigh on 44 years now. The last 15 years or so I have been giving platelets which means once a month. Proud to say that my children also donate.
It really doesn’t hurt, it takes relatively little time and you get treats (although not as good as they advertise). If you are interested contact your local blood bank. My spot is the DeGowin Blood Center at the UofIowa. 319-356-2058 if you want to set up an appointment.