I read somewhere that every 2 seconds someone needs blood, ever since then I have been a regular blood donor. This is something my father has thought me, a behavior he passed on to me and I'm very grateful for it. We all know why we are donating and how 1 in every 7 people entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion. This is not going to be your usual "these are the blood types" kind of post, oh no, in this post you will read some curious things I learned through my years of donating. What are we waiting for then? Let's go on our happy little red educational journey!

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1. Donating blood is good for health and lowers cancer risk

Iron is one of the main minerals in our blood, it increases the amount of free-radical damage in the body. Donating blood reduces iron stores by which it reduces cancer risk. Donating blood regularly can help reduce the thickness and stickiness of our blood and allow blood to flow more easily and get to the heart faster. (source: Blood Flow Online)

2. Cancer Patients will get most of the donated blood

Only 2 percent of all blood donations usually go to patients from trauma accidents, in fact, most of the donated blood goes to cancer patients, especially children. According to American Red Cross 25% of us, ALL OF US will need a blood transfusion at some point.

3. Donating blood has weight loss advantages

Yes, you read that right. When donating blood a person can lose up to 625 calories which is approximately the same as she would by running for 30 minutes. (source: Live Strong)

4. One pint of blood can save up to 3 lives

Females receive 53% of blood transfusions and males 47%. Each country has different blood donating regulations, for example, in America you can donate blood every two months and you give a pint of your blood. In Croatia males can donate every 3 months and females every 4 months giving 450 mL of blood or as Americans would call it, a pint :)

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5. Coconut Water is a substitute for blood in emergency

Where there is no IV available for a dehydrated patient, he or she can drink coconut water because it has one-fortieth the sodium level of plasma, and the potassium level is about 10-15 times higher. (source: ABC Science)

6. You get FREE blood tests whenever you donate

Before your donated blood is given to a patient there are many tests performed on it, in some countries up to 13 including infectious diseases. If your blood is infected doctors will notify you, and if they don't you can safely assume you have healthy blood! :) Imagine how much you would pay to undergo those tests separately.

7. By donating blood you are a HERO!

Yes, you are a hero because you are saving someones life but did you know you are treated as one too? In Croatia, you have a right to a PAID DAY OFF from work and after you donate blood you always get a small gift and a free lunch.

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Check out my other sources here:

• Journal of the American Medical Association
• American Journal of Epidemiology

This post is my entry for curious facts contest. The contest is held by @river-island and the point is to build a stronger community connections by presenting some valuable information to each other. If you have some interesting facts to share, visit curious-facts-contest-5 and share your information, and even if you don't want to participate in sharing, visit it anyway and learn some interesting stuff :)