Body facts
Did you know that an average person has about 5 to 7 litres of blood in his or her body? Its components include red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma, each playing a important part in how our body works.
Red blood cells carry oxygen around our body from the lungs to the cells in our muscles, organs, and other body tissues.
White blood cells help to defend our body against infectious diseases (i.e. bacteria and viruses), as part of the immune system.
Platelets are blood cell fragments that assist in the formation of clots for wound healing.
Plasma is liquid component of blood in which, red cells, white cells, platelets are suspended.
One donation = 3 Lives saved
Who needs blood or blood products?
People who are victims of trauma, or have acute health problems or chronic diseases, i.e. leukaemia, anaemia, cancer, autoimmune disorders.
What are you going to do about it?
If you are between the ages of 16 and 70, weigh more than 45 kg, and feel healthy, you can make an appointment by ringing the Australian Red Cross Blood services on:
13 14 95, or sign up online on
http://www.giveblood.redcross.org.au/.
Once you have made an appointment, the staff will go through the few steps you have to do before you donate, which includes a 'pre-screening.'
What you can also do is sign up for a mobile unit to visit your school or business regularly.
So please, if there is one way to change someone's life, this is the way to do it!
