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First human-to-human blood transfusion -

In 1818, English obstetrician James Blundell (1791–1878) performed the first recorded human-to-human blood transfusion. The patient died after initially showing improvement.

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Four main blood groups discovered -

In 1901, Austrian biologist and physician Karl Landsteiner (1868–1943) distinguished the three main human blood groups, A, B, and C (later changed to O). He later identified a fourth blood group, AB.

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First successful non-direct blood transfusion -

The first successful non-direct blood transfusion was conducted in 1914 by Belgian doctor Albert Hustin (1882–1967). Whereas previously blood transfusions needed to be made directly from the donor to the receiver before coagulation occurred, Hustin used sodium citrate as an anticoagulant. Adding anticoagulant and refrigerating the blood made it possible to store it for days, opening the way for blood banking.

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Birth of the blood banks -

The first blood donor service in the world was established in 1922 in London by Percy Oliver (1878–1944). But it was the Soviets who were first to establish a network of facilities to collect and store blood for use in transfusions at hospitals, in 1930.

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First in-hospital blood facilities -

In 1935, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota was the first facility to begin storing citrated blood in a bank and utilizing it for transfusions within a hospital setting in the US.

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Development of a modern blood transfusion service -

The Spanish Civil War (1936–39) marked a new era in blood transfusion medicine. The establishment of the Barcelona blood-transfusion service provided much-needed blood to the front line. Similarly, the outbreak of the Second World War provided a great stimulus for the development of blood transfusion services and allowed medics to save thousands of Allied lives. Incidentally, also in 1939, the Rh blood group was discovered.

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National Blood Transfusion Service -

The National Blood Transfusion Service, made up of regional centers, was set up in the United Kingdom in 1946. At that time, around 200,000 units of blood were collected from around 270,000 donors. Today, according to the National Health Service, 1.6 million units are provided thanks to around 900,000 donors.

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First nationwide US blood program for civilians -

In 1948, Red Cross began the first nationwide blood program for civilians by opening its first collection center in Rochester, New York.

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Plastic blood bag -

The development in 1948 of the plastic blood bag helped revolutionize blood collection.

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"Day of Blood" -

By the late 1940s and early 1950s, the public donation of blood was becoming commonplace in many countries around the world. In this image, nurses carry out the task of taking blood from donors in November 1949, during the "Day of Blood" in Paris after the call from the National Centre for Blood Transfusion.

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Elvis Presley donates blood -

The call for volunteer blood donation by the US public received a boost after Elvis Presley was pictured donating blood for the Red Cross during his military service in Germany in the late 1950s.

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Sophia Loren donates blood -

Similarly in 1962, Italian actress Sophia Loren was filmed signing autographs for fans in Rome's Piazza del Popolo before entering a Red Cross vehicle and giving blood.

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Blood donor campaigns -

Images of celebrities donating blood helped boost the campaigns of the 1960s. This poster reads: "When was the last time you gave blood? Give a little, so someone can live."

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All-volunteer blood donor system -

In 1970, US blood banks moved toward an all-volunteer blood donor system. Two years later, Red Cross called for a national blood policy, which the federal government established in 1974, supporting standardized practices and an end to paid donations.

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Blood screening begins -

In the early 1980s, donated blood began undergoing comprehensive screening after warnings issued by Red Cross and the FDA alerted the public to the threat of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Donor blood was also tested for the hepatitis virus.

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More blood donors needed -

Today in Great Britain, 6,000 blood donors are needed every day to meet demand, according the the UK's National Health Service.

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American stats -

Across the Atlantic, each year an estimated 6.8 million people in the US donate blood, according to Red Cross statistics. That equates to 13.6 million units of whole blood and red blood cells collected annually across the nation.

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Blood donor -

Currently the Red Cross in the United States provides about 40% of the country's blood and blood components, collected entirely from volunteer donors. But only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly.

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Cristiano Ronaldo supports blood donation -

To help meet the worldwide demand for donor blood, celebrities around the globe are doing their bit to encourage people to give blood. In 2015, Portuguese soccer ace Cristiano Ronaldo fronted a campaign launched by healthcare multinational Abbott to inspire young people to donate blood.

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Tom Hanks donates blood -

Hollywood actor Tom Hanks was one of the celebrities who donated blood for research after recovering from coronavirus.

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Andrea Bocelli donates blood -

Italian opera tenor Andrea Bocelli was another celebrity who donated blood after testing positive for COVID-19, in the hope of finding a solution for the virus.

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Richard Branson supports blood donation -

The English business magnate and founder of the Virgin Group supports blood donation, among many other humanitarian initiatives.

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Jackie Chan supports blood donation -

Hong Kong actor and martial artist Jackie Chan, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, has championed many charitable works and causes, and actively encourages blood donation.

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Miley Cyrus donates blood -

Miley Cyrus, beloved by millions of millennials, has donated blood and actively promotes blood donation.

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Zoa Morani donates blood -

In India, model and Bollywood actress Zoa Morani donated blood for plasma therapy trials, and tweeted her experience to encourage others to do the same.

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Who can give blood? -

The World Health Organization issues guidelines on who can give blood. Most people aged between 18 and 65 can donate blood if they are in good health.

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Where can you donate blood? -

Giving blood, platelets, or plasma is a simple thing to do, but it can make a big difference in the lives of others. To donate blood, register at your local Red Cross or national blood transfusion center.

Sources: (Community Blood Center) (Healio) (British Journal of Haematology) (NHS Blood and Transplant) (American National Red Cross) (WHO)

See also: The best ways to reduce your blood pressure

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