Giving blood is a valuable service to society, providing blood not only for those who require surgery but also insuring that those injured in disasters like floods, hurricanes and tornadoes – or in war-torn countries like Syria – receive needed blood even when the demand is very high. According to the World Health Organization, at least half of the more… Read more →
Donating blood is usually perceived as something donors do to help other people. And that’s good—donating blood does help countless people the world over every day. Blood donations help people with chronic diseases, victims of severe trauma, and people in many vulnerable positions. But does donating blood also help donor? Some say yes. This may seem counterintuitive—less blood should… Read more →
Watch the news every night, you might get the impression that blood is is a sorry state. With diseases like ebola, chikungunya, and a new hepatitis c relative getting media attention all the time, you could be forgiven for worrying about the safety of the blood we’ve got available. People are understandably squeamish about blood at the best of times,… Read more →
When we think of incidents that could lead to charges of medical malpractice, the list might include misdiagnoses, anesthesia errors, and surgical negligence. But, what about blood contamination? Transfusion-transmitted infections may not be as common as other types of negligent-associated maladies and injuries, but the impact on the victim can be just as devastating. Exposure to contaminated blood through transfusions… Read more →
Your blood donation can make the difference between life and death for a car crash victim. A single patient with a serious injury may require as much as 100 pints of blood, reports the American Red Cross. Type O negative is often in short supply because it can be given to patients of all blood types in emergency situations. Hospitals… Read more →