How Does Blood Donation Work? | Earth Science

What happens when you donate blood? Greg Foot explains how a blood donation actually works and what happens after you've donated. Do you know what your blood type is? Subscribe to Earth Science: bit.ly/SubscribeToEarthLab
Footnotes:
1 www.blood.co.uk/who-can-give-...
2 my.blood.co.uk/Account/Register
3 www.blood.co.uk/the-donation-...
4 centennial.rucares.org/index.p...
5 www.transfusion.com.au/blood_p...
6 www.blood.co.uk/the-donation-...
7 www.theguardian.com/notesandqu... and www.blood.co.uk/the-donation-...
8 www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-3003...
9 www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic... and www.bbc.co.uk/homes/housekeepi...
10 www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-3003...
11 www.nhs.uk/conditions/Blood-gr... and www.britannica.com/science/ant...
12 mosaicscience.com/story/man-go...
13 www.blood.co.uk/why-give-bloo...
14 www.discoveriesinmedicine.com/...
15 www.blood.co.uk/why-give-bloo...
16 www.mayoclinic.org/tests-proce...
17 www.blood.co.uk/why-give-bloo...
18 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK...
19 mosaicscience.com/story/man-go...

[@r3dplanet616]

As someone with a blood cancer, I require quite a lot of blood from donors to stay alive. I just want to say thank you to anyone who donates blood. You're really making a huge difference for those of us with leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma. Special appreciation for the A+ crowd!

[@user-dy3vh1fg6x]

I know you wrote this comment 3 years ago and I hope you're fine nowadays🤗 I wanna thank you for the great opportunity to save lives and feel great about myself❤

[@hahafunnyname]

Hope you're still alive

[@Hamletstwin]

I recently had to receive 12 units (~1 pint ea) in the hospital over a two week period. Thank you to all who donate!!! I wouldn't be around without you. I plan on donating as soon as I can.

[@Hamletstwin]

I'm in the US and according to the red cross I can donate after 1 year.

[@toshihitsu1989]

as long he has not live in the uk during that time he will be fine. will have to wait a year after that blood transfusion but that is it.

[@limitlessbeast3867]

Glad you are doing okay, have a wonderful life! (:

[@limitlessbeast3867]

Why?

[@francismajor3530]

I was so nervous going in to donate. However, I have never been treated more humanely than by the staff at the blood donation centre. They were just amazing, always trying to keep me as comfortable as possible while donating. Donors really get the spotlight but the many hardworking staff and volunteers are the true stars as they make it all happen. Thank you ❤

[@FCC46]

I am a 6 times donor and I recommend that you guys donate as well. There is absolutely no harm in donating

[@user-dy3vh1fg6x]

I'll be 18 this week and I chose to celebrate by donating blood🎉 that will be my third donation and I'm glad I had and have the great opportunity to save lives ! I love donating blood and I extremely wait for my birthday to donate blood again 💉

[@usArrr3]

Im 0- and worked in a bloodbank for 9 months. I sadly only donated once so far, but definitely planning to do it again. It is really a great way to help people in need and after experiencing the processing first hand, I am not any less (probably more) convinced its a great thing :)

[@LFPGaming]

*I'm pretty sure my blood type is: red*

[@dlobom]

did you even watch the video? red is not a blood type

[@normayounan541]

+Daniel Lmao lmao im sure it was a joke relax lmao

[@jaux12121]

It's a Top Gear sketch... +Daniel Lobo

[@davidmarchant9386]

Are you sure

[@2011smperry]

Ha ha ha. Very funny.

[@Crojach]

A+ here... Donated blood 33 times so far and I am only 29 years old :D

[@anafranciscaacain2656]

You are an amazing person and the real superhero!

[@tarafreeman5248]

I donated today, in America you can donate at 16 with a parents permission

[@tarafreeman5248]

I passed out tho so... make sure you eat a big breakfast before hand lol

[@eltocayo87]

Tara Freeman too funny I almost pass out too!!!

[@2011smperry]

I liver in Australia the Australian Red cross blood bank allows 16 year olds to donate with parent consent. Also whole blood every 12 weeks plasma every 2 weeks and platelets every month.

[@ethanjohnson1049]

I could donate at 16 without consent.

[@jesusvillalba2886]

Funny, I like in the United States and I need parental permission for donating blood.

[@Piper_____]

I donated blood today for the first time. It was the most pampered I’ve ever been in a medical setting, haha. “How are you feeling - do you want a cookie or some juice?” I’m always glad to be able to help others, and I’m excited to finally be heavy enough to donate. It was very weird seeing my own blood going into the bag, and the warmth of the tubes was something I wasn’t expecting, but it was still overall a great experience. No bruising, either! :)

[@iSpazioAdmin]

That's so inaccurate, I can't even! I don't play Candy Crush during the whole process! I usually play Super Mario…

[@eskimokid]

I donated blond for the second time yesterday so this was super interesting! I just wish I was O- instead of O+! Great videos as always!

[@merthyr1831]

donating is literally the easiest and most painless way to help people in need. Please consider it even if youre afraid of needles (you wont feel anything but a pinch).

[@CreedBrattonTheOffice]

Not necessarily true for the "you have the same blood group your whole life". It's true to say that it won't change on it's own but if you go through a bone marrow transplant (like my father did), depending on the donors blood type, yours would change to their type after a while, as for those that don't know, it's the bone marrow that makes your blood.

[@DheerajBhaskar]

Wow! Rare golden blood, that could be a start if a new class system! 😀

[@Andy-dp3hg]

Respective and appreciative to the Donations

[@dannyedwards2012]

A- Here and i used to donate blood but now moved onto Platelets as they are more needed (especially for A Rhs Neg) and can donate more often, funny enough i work in NHSBT (blood and Transplant) in IT so its quite convenient to donate in a place i work in everyday (can donate platelets every 4-8 weeks instead of blood at every 12 weeks) a very informative video keep up the good work :)

[@bec775775]

I'm booked for March 13, and hoping this time I can! I'm afraid of needles and last time my anxiety was so high it affected my blood pressure and I was rejected! Hoping I can on that Tues in a few weeks! So want to give.. it's disappointing when the body doesn't cooperate!

[@craigpaterson3508]

I'm ab+ got told that it's one of the rarities in the world. obviously can take any blood group but also have components that treat rare conditions. around 2-3% in the UK have ab+ so helps me fell special.

[@bulman07]

I don't know my blood type, but I'm glad the exposure's been fixed!

[@EmethMatthew]

I'm AB+ which apparently makes me very valuable as a plasma/platelet donor, though not so much as a red cells donor. Maybe you could do a video on that type of donation as well?

[@rustyshakelford1279]

Gave today. Piece of cake, man.

[@FumblerX]

O neg here and have donated over 60 times, Can you go deeper in to the blood donation, like those like me who only give red blood cells. this topic needs more awakening.

[@camofrog44]

Let me work out your age, 17 before you can start and 3 months between = 15 years exactly so you must be 32 years old minimum. But I'm going to assume you missed a few and you did say over 60. You are 38 years old? Am I close?

[@DUCKDUDE4100]

It's 2 or even 1 month in some countries and since their picture is an American football I'd check how long it is there.

[@camofrog44]

Just checked, it's 8 weeks in the states. I shall reduce my estimation by 3. You are 35

[@FumblerX]

Yes spot on, i have missed a few, birth year is 1978 so 38 years old this year. around 25 donations the regular way and the rest now only Platelet I sit for arround 2 hours connected to an apheresis machine. :) www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/types-donations#platelets

[@JulianBaird]

Thanks for talking about this. I'm going to give blood. Should have been doing it before really.

[@marynoro]

Hey Greg! can you make a video about why we get goose bumps?

[@SimmsLive]

I'm O+ and I've donated like 13 times now :)

[@FaithWandering]

I am a very regular blood donor. I'm B- and Its good fun donating!

[@titofungo2772]

hi, this probably isn't the best of places to ask this but I'm under the impression that I would best understand this here. I been wondering how divers hold their breath for quite some time under water, when I can hardly do 45 seconds, please would you care to do a video explanation, the longest hold record and perhaps techniques or tips to increase one's breath hold. would be greatly appreciated. Regards... Tito Anderson

[@marcezs08]

when i used to donate while i used to live in the US, i was 1 of 2 in a 3000 donor group with a specific antingen, they always called me after enough time had passed and my red cells had regenerated.

[@lugerpants]

I donate platelets every 2 weeks...I'm A positive; it's a wonderful way 2 help those in need...mostly cancer patients because chemo really tears up platelets (I think they help with clotting)

[@yessicagonzalezixta8045]

Greetings from Mexico ❤

[@ImaBawss22]

I just donated today. Im pretty proud of myself i guess

[@Desslosh]

You should have talked about the different components of the blood and how they differ regarding who can receive it. For instance, while AB people can receive from anyone and it's said that they can donate only to AB, in fact, their plasma can be donated to anyone, as it doesn't attack O, A, B and AB cells.

[@TiffanyHallmark]

O+, found out the O in high school biology and actually found out the + from donating blood. I don't get to donate very often as I am generally anemic.

[@MerseyBilly]

Good video but too short to go into all the details involved with blood groups and donating. Best checking an NHS or similar website. I'm O Neg, and used to donate until I had to start taking regular anti-histamines. This stopped me as they apparently can affect new-born babies. Sad at this, as I had to have a transfusion when born, and am only still here thanks to that donation.

[@Araanor]

Blood production isn't really free. I pay money for food and water that gets converted to blood

[@bec775775]

don't be an ass about it.. just donate! You know they repay you with a juice or cookie?

[@blue_cameron]

Bec Fos he's not being an ass he's just stating a fact.

[@Grizzly_Lab]

I know my blood type, which is A+, but I also know I haven't got a Kell antigen (I'm "Kell Negative") and I also know my Rh phenotype, which is "CcDee" (is defined "01" on my blood donator ID card). And actually there are a lot of other blood factors and types to consider. Also donated blood goes under a HUGE number of checks (from HIV to an awful lot of diseases, along with other checks) before being available. Few days after my donation, I usually get a FIVE PAGES examination results (for free, indeed) including any possible disease (-:

[@911gpd]

Who is O+ ?

[@ginniekinz5401]

911gp meeeee 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@henrysullivan8389]

I am

[@TheLowstef]

I am A+ and I've been donating about twice a year for over 10 years. Well over 20 donations. So far.

[@KX36]

Thank you!

[@TheLowstef]

I'm actually planning to pick it up a bit. Our local regulations are: minimum 2 months between donations, maximum 5 donations per year (for males). People from the local blood centre do come at the university I work at twice a year so that's what I've been doing mostly, but I plan to sneak in at least one more between those, schedule permitting.

[@percygallagher922]

I hate needles so much, but I've still given blood three times. The five minutes of discomfort I get is nothing compared to the lives I can save.

[@bartz0rt928]

A+, we tested it in biology class in high school once.

[@rainydaylady6596]

I've donated, well sold actually, plasma. It can be used for many things. Like giving blood but there's a machine involved that separates the blood from the plasma and you get the blood back.

[@BoffinGrusky]

I see you INCLUDED "A" "B" "AB" and "O"...and even the Rh's. But you EXCLUDED the "LBGTs". I always knew this channel was hemo-phobic.

[@fawkyou2001]

Offensive yet funny

[@BoffinGrusky]

Well, what do you expect from an old, white, cis gendered male??! :)

[@GR-ym8po]

hahaha

[@SpeedStrengthJames]

Family Guy gay gene comes to mind lmao

[@MrGamerman001]

It shouldn't be offensive at all.... It's just scientifically true and funny, due to the title and definition of the video's content.

[@sjlevi99]

I'm A+ and I recently donated blood.

[@jeffdunham5057]

Does anyone know if Diabetic Type 1's can give blood? (Thought 'illness' was quite vague in the footnotes :P)

[@jssolan5207]

BBC: Your blood is made for free. EA: 🤑

[@YorkieKDS]

AB+ and I donate as much as possible, but why does it have be to 12wks in between donations?

[@786sohailm]

I'm going tomorrow for my first donation don't know what expect

[@tommybjohnston]

Think you could do a follow up to talk about the different components of blood and their therapeutic uses for various types of patients? I'm a "yank" as you'd call me, being from the states. I have blood type A+ and donate platelets regularly through American Red Cross. As I understand it, Platelets are needed for blood to clot. Many surgeries, cancer patients, premature babies, etc need additional platelets. I don't know the numbers for the UK, but less than 50% of the general population is eligible to donate at any given point. Donors on certain medications, with certain travel, women that are pregnant, etc are excluded. Of the eligible population, only a small subset donates. Discussing the types of blood products and the types of patients that require these blood products could help better communicate the needs to someone who may be interested in donating.

[@RealMadrid-qe7mz]

The nurse was taking so much blood from me that I fainted, they had to carry my to a different room and they gave me or age juice lol, anyways very educational video, cheers mate!

[@RealMadrid-qe7mz]

Oh id like to add that it was not for donating blood.

[@JediHagrid]

type O+ donating is awesome.

[@FalbertForester]

O Neg, myself. Donating blood directly saves lives. Please, spend an hour of your time every two months, and give blood.

[@AntiFreak321]

Make a follow up where u explain what happened to that squash and definatly that biscuit.

[@lollsazz]

I've donaed 4 times, beginnaing at age 18, but then got sick, and then got an autoimmune disorder. The tro things are probably not connected, but I'm quite sad I can't give blood any more, as I'm one of those not afraid of big needles :/ Otherwise, B0-, which can actually be chemically converted to 0- (something A can't be). There are both good and bad things to it, especially the rhesus

[@zakidams268]

A+

[@JoaoPessoa86]

O negative and registered with a blood center. They do not stop calling asking for donations. apparently O- is rarer in the US

[@Pekapa]

O- is really requested as it can be donated to almost everyone (as stated in the video)

[@JoaoPessoa86]

+Pedro Paiva they call it baby blood here because it can be used in neonatal surgery where they are not able to test for blood type sometimes.

[@bartjoboy]

O- means you're an universal donor: your blood is compatible with all other blood types so it's used a lot in hospitals during emergencies and stuff :)

[@vmikeyboi323]

Why is there a bong in the middle right? Of the blue background?

[@hotoole2956]

In the word of science its called a flask, dummy.

[@971368423]

Can you donate while travelling to a different country? Are there any legal requirements?

[@BoffinGrusky]

It depends on the country. You may want to avoid making donations in some third-world nations, as they use a butcher knife and a shop vac to collect the "donations".

[@tofucat_]

Typically yes, though it depends on where you're coming from and the destination country's requirements.

[@saberline152]

what about synthetic blood?

[@sharkboy214]

I give blood so this is interesting knowing what happens after I've donated

[@DelinaSilence]

*Looks at desc* TL:DR!

[@jeroenjager8064]

Now I'm really curious what my blood type is, I have used enough kitchen appliences wrongly to know it's at least red.

[@brandtbleustone6623]

I want to know if you can use the blood that you donated.

[@rjhrjh3]

This does happen. Some people need to have an operation in which they need a transfusion of blood. So they donate blood beforehand. Then have the operation and receive their own blood back.

[@leannyly]

I'm O+, woohoo! I love donating blood but hate how sick it makes me feel afterwards :( worth it to save lives though!

[@MasterHigure]

1:15 You do know that spinach doesn't have more iron in it than many other vegetables, like rocket salad, or black beans, right?

[@theanimalkeaper]

I want go give blood but I have health problems so I don’t know if I can

[@klaatubaradanikto984]

What's a pint?

[@ac11dc110]

so you are telling us that vampires dont drink our blood after donation?

[@guest_informant]

GIVE BLOOD

[@eugenio5774]

I used to donate blood, but then I had to stop... after a couple of times, my hemoglobine levels would drop dramatically, and already I was barely over the minimum level required to donate. this made me very sad

[@HShango]

Yup i know my blood type: my blood type is AS.So basically i have the trait of sickle cells and a trait of normal blood cells basically. Which is known a lot in other ethnic groups.

[@KX36]

That's not blood type, that's haemoglobin type. You could have HbAS and have a blood type B+ for example.

[@HShango]

KX36 really !?

[@lll8112]

I don't know what is my blood type but my mother said I'm type A (but I don't know if my blood is positive or negative.

[@InsightHomewood]

I am A+ and, ironically, donated a pint today.

[@deadfreightwest5956]

I have no idea what my blood type is, apart from red.I seem to recall a class in biology in junior high where we discovered out types, but either I was never told or simply never knew it.

[@HyralProductions]

What if i drain my a2rh negative blood and i refill with 0null blood?

[@KX36]

20 more horsepower of course!

[@jagdpantherstudio]

I think your body only produces one type of blood, so your body would reject the other type of blood being put into you, so you would still just die. This is what I believe would happen

[@vapandrei]

Didn't know a pint was an official measurement term for a science show.

[@weirdogirl1275]

I wish I could donate. I am old enough, I just have a blood disorder that doesn’t make as much hemoglobin in my blood as the average healthy person. Therefore, there is basically a greater personal health concern for me if I donate blood. I’ve always wanted to though.

[@weirdogirl1275]

Can you guess the name of my blood disorder?

[@Inamichan]

I tried to give blood once and it was during a health kick and they told me (according to my height) I was too underweight. I’ve never been told that ever and I really wanted to give blood cuz I have 0- 😐😐😐

[@RaphMinus1Kidney]

I often discribe myself as a glorified blood donor. Kidney donation basically start at blood type.

[@michaelmurphy19]

not a lot of people know their blood type. kinda surprising

[@thanksfernuthin]

ABneg. Pretty rare. Will cost a small fortune if I ever need any. I would give blood more often if I could get first priority if I need it later in life.

[@KX36]

The more you give, the greater the supply, the cheaper it should be. ;)

[@geronimoproductions4990]

I ❤ Science!

[@Mikesmilesuk]

Mine is A- And as happens I'm giving blood this afternoon.

[@nothing5819]

I get blood donor with a needle every time, not a bag.

[@ahsanrahib9958]

Wait a sec..my body Doesn’t mske blood for free

[@PJoriginal]

I go to donate blood every 3 months and they kick me out everytime because I have low blood pressure :(

[@kylejf2108]

O- here. When it's time for me to be able to donate, the blood center will call me. sometimes, if there is an emergency with a baby or other, they will even call in the middle of the night.

[@Maya464528awesome]

I’m terrified of needles and the thought of my blood being drained from my body but I donate regularly. I also faint or throw up after donating but see it as my duty to keep going because I’m O+ and can save so many lives. If I can do it even though I faint or throw up and am deathly afraid of it, so can you.

[@NiamhCarolan1]

I think I know what happens to my blood when I get frozen.... Erm does it freeze? Close enough?😂

[@raynapereira6312]

I've always wanted to donate blood but I am not allowed to because I'm less than 50 kilograms,even though I'm above 18 and I am the ideal weight for my height.

[@maxximumb]

A+ blood donor here.

[@JonatasAdoM]

Why not just add iron to the blood? What kf the dinir takes iron supplements?

[@klaatubaradanikto984]

What's a gallon?

[@rave_ash_1423]

Not very special, O positive, but I've been donating since I had just turned 16, and I actually have an appointment coming up this month, in a couple weeks. A long time friend of mine admitted he likes me, and as a date, we're donating blood together! Boring, but I thought it was cute.

[@fanaticalpotato]

I'd like to donate blood but I'm not sure I'd be able to stay conscious.

[@DiyD66]

mine's AB +

[@jstwan23]

o+ I do the double red when I donate!!!

[@ayyluuna]

you can donate when you are 16, sometimes even 15

[@davidmarchant9386]

Stitch 626 not in the uk

[@omegablender]

Two questions: 1. Why is the minimum age 17? 2. Can people charge money for their blood?

[@DUCKDUDE4100]

That's when the NHS determined that the risks were low enough for the donor and not in Britain, we have a blood surplus most of the time.

[@Legacy-sw7bv]

Where I live, you can start donating at 16.