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The average human body has about 1.3 gallons (5 L) of bloodIt accounts for 7% of total body weightVeins are large blood vessels carrying deoxygenated blood to the lungs. The lungs oxygenate the blood with oxygen from the air. Then, the blood goes into arteries. Arteries are large blood vessels that carry the newly oxygenated blood to every corner of the body
This is a map of major arteries and veins in the human body.
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If one of these arteries or veins is cut open, the victim may bleed out within several minutes. Bleeding to death is called desanguination (massive loss of blood) or exsanguination (complete loss of blood)Alcoholics or those with liver disease are particularly at risk for de/exsanguination because an impaired liver reduces the blood's clotting ability
Bleeding(scientifically known as Hemorrhaging (America)/Hæmorrhaging (Britain))
Class I – loss of 0-15% (0-0.75 L) of a victim's blood; vital signs stable; transfusions and saline solutions not necessary; just to be safe, victim should not engage in vigorous physical activityClass II – loss of 15-30% (0.75 L-1.5 L) of a victim's blood; victim experiences a faster heartbeat; skin cools and appears pale; victim appears dazed or irritable; saline solutions may be necessaryClass III – loss of 30-40% (1.5 L-2 L) of a victim's blood; blood pressure drops; heart rate increases; victim goes into shock; victim is mentally deficient, dazed, has difficulty moving, is hard to understand, and acts strangely; saline solutions and blood transfusions necessaryClass IV – loss of 40% (+2 L) or more of a victim's blood; victim passes out; saline and blood; heart goes into ventricular tachycardia (the heart beats unsustainably fast); transfusions necessary; require resuscitation to prevent death;A cancer patient was found with just 25% (0.9 L) of her blood in her system and survived. She lost the blood over a period of weeks, not all at onceDonating blood about takes 8-10% (0.4-0.5 L) of a person's bloodThe average woman loses 1 cup (0.24 L) of blood during menstruationRedheads do not bleed faster than other hair types
The Color of Blood
Humans and other mammals have red blood because of a compound called hemoglobin. Blood from veins is darker red than blood from arteries because arterial blood is oxygenated. Veins appear blue because of the light-scattering properties of skin, not because the blood is actually blue.Victims of carbon monoxide poisoning have bright red bloodVictims of cyanide poisoning have bright red blood in their veinsSkinks have green bloodSquid, cuttlefish, snails, slugs, and horseshoe crabs have blue bloodSea squirts and sea cucumbers have blood that turns yellow when exposed to oxygen
Blood Types
Blood types are determined by the presence or absence of antigens – substances that trigger an immune reaction to foreign objects in the body. An A blood type has A antigens, a B blood type has B antigens, an AB blood type has both A and B antigens, and an O blood type has neither A nor B antigens on red blood cells, but A and B antigens in the plasmaType O can donate to A, B, AB, and O; Type A can donate to A and AB; Type B can donate to B and AB; AB can donate to ABThe universal blood cell receiver is ABThere is a third antigen called the Rh factor, which can be present (creating a + blood type) or absent (creating a – blood type)The universal red cell donor is O negativeThe universal plasma donor is AB positiveO+ and A+ are the most common blood typesB- and AB- are the least common blood types
Blood types are inherited through the parent. This Red Cross chart will help you figure out someone's blood type
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