Have you ever donated blood? Or, had to receive a transfusion? Do you know your blood type? That is a very, very important question. Although blood transfusions had been attempted for centuries, sometimes successfully, it wasn't until 1901 that Karl Lansteiner, an Austrian-American research scientist, discovered what he called blood compatibility. Another scientist, Jan Jansky, analyzed and classified human blood into four main groups, A,B,AB, and O types. We now know that there are positive and negative types as well. Transfusions from a donor with the same blood type increased the likelihood of success enormously. This was demonstrated conclusively in the chaos of World War I, when mobile blood banks saved many soldiers who would most certainly have otherwise died from blood loss.
Did you know that one blood donation can save three lives? Next time you donate this gift of life your blood will be given to someone in dire need with the same blood type as yours. And if you ever need blood, you will receive a transfusion of this precious fluid that is compatible with your blood type.
Next week. a look at the development of the electrocardiogram
To learn more about the topic of blood transfusions, go to:
www.redcrossblood.org
www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/history-blood-transfusion
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