<h5>What is blood and what is it made of?</h5>  <p>Blood is a red coloured semi-fluid liquid that flows inside the human body. An average human being has between 4.5 litres and 5.7 litres of blood. Each heartbeat pushes blood through the body and carries oxygen to every cell in the body. </p>
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There are four main components of blood. These are red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets form 40-45% of the blood and plasma forms the remaining 55% of the blood.
</p> <h5>What is the purpose of blood?</h5>  <p>Blood transports essential nutrients to all the organs of the body. Different components of blood perform different functions. 
Red blood cells contain a protein called haemoglobin that helps carry oxygen to every cell of the body and give blood its red colour. It also carries carbon dioxide and other metabolic waste products from the cells to the lungs and kidneys for purification. </p>
<p>White blood cells are the fighter cells of the body. These cells help in fighting foreign bodies like viruses and bacteria by producing antibodies. Platelets play a major role in controlling bleeding by coagulating the blood. Plasma is the liquid part of the blood which is yellowish in colour and contains proteins, sugars, hormones, salts, etc.</p>
<p>Having enough blood circulating in the human body at all times is critical. Without it, the body would be deprived of oxygen and other important components of blood. This may lead to diseases that can be life-threatening. 
</p> <h5>When do people require blood?</h5>  <p>People can require blood in many situations. For example, a person who has lost a lot of blood due to an accident may require blood urgently. People who have chronic diseases such as leukaemia may also require blood frequently. In such cases, blood may be taken from the body of a healthy person and given to a person in need. This is called a blood transfusion. Blood transfusion is a simple procedure that can be done within an hour. </p>
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Each time a person donates blood, they donate their red blood cells, plasma and platelets. These components can be separated and given to different people as per their needs. This means that one donor can save up to three lives every time they donate blood. 
</p> <h5>Are there any adverse effects of donating blood?</h5>  <p>Blood can only be donated by healthy people between 18 and 65 years of age weighing more than 45 kilograms. On average, a person can donate blood after every 3 months. In some cases, a person can experience minor side effects such as dizziness after they donate. These usually subside within 24 hours. </p>
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The act of donating blood is crucial to saving lives especially since blood cannot be stored for long periods of time. In today’s world, where the demand for blood is almost constant, all healthy people should be encouraged to donate blood. The process to donate blood is extremely safe and helps save lives. 
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