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Whole blood primarily consists of two types of blood cells:
Red Blood cells are the most common. They carry oxygen through the body from the lungs via the blood.
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- Donated red blood cells last only six weeks
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- Uses include:
- Open heart surgery - needs 6 units
- Cancer patients - need 10-20 units
- Aneurysm - needs 6-40 units
- Auto accident - needs 4-10 units
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Plasma carries nutrients throughout the body. Straw-colored, it is the largest single component of blood, making up about 55 percent of total blood volume.
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- Donated plasma can be frozen and stored for a year.
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- Uses include:
- Aneurysm - needs 4 units
- Plasma exchange - needs 10-12 units per treatment
- Burn victims - need many units.
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