Hi Puzzlers,
Today’s blog post was created from a conversation Jill had with fellow puzzler Chris P. who works for the American Red Cross. Chris orders puzzles to put in the rooms where people go to wait for processing or to recuperate after they donate blood. What a great idea we all thought. As most of you already know, puzzling is a great way to pass time and reduce stress-and having blood drawn can definitely cause stress. This conversation got us all thinking about the Red Cross, blood and blood types.
In 1901 Australian physician Karl Landsteiner discovered the first three human blood groups (A, B, O) and in 1940, with the assistance of Alexander Wiener and Philip Levine, discover the Rh blood factor.
Edwin Cohn, in 1940, developed cold ethanol fractionation, which is the process of breaking down blood into albumin, gamma globulin and fibrinogen. That same year “John Elliott developed the first blood container, a vacuum bottle extensively used by the Red Cross.” In 1941 the Red Cross began its National Blood Donor Service to collect blood for the U.S. military. This service was instrumental in the treatment of wounded soldiers; they were treated with dried plasma during WWII and with albumin for shock after the Pearl Harbor attack. In 1945, after collecting more than 13 million pints of blood, the Red Cross ended its WWII blood program.
The first civilian blood collection program began in Rochester, NY in 1948 and by 1949 there were 1,500 hospital blood banks, 46 community blood centers, and 31 American Red Cross regional blood centers. What a difference a year makes!
Hang on puzzlers-here’s where it gets wild! Since 1901 there have been over 300 blood types discovered, each fitting into one of the major four groups which are A, B, AB and O, and, the Rh positive and Rh negatives are as important as the major four groups, especially if you are receiving a transfusion.
The oldest of the blood types is O. It comes from the birthplace of humanity, Africa, and is associated with the hunter-gatherer societies. If you’re a type O you represent about 45% of the American population. Next oldest is A. It is thought to have evolved from the agricultural societies and represents about 42% of the American population. Then there is type B, which makes up for about 8% percent, and the AB’s are at about 5%.
Today’s blog post was created from a conversation Jill had with fellow puzzler Chris P. who works for the American Red Cross. Chris orders puzzles to put in the rooms where people go to wait for processing or to recuperate after they donate blood. What a great idea we all thought. As most of you already know, puzzling is a great way to pass time and reduce stress-and having blood drawn can definitely cause stress. This conversation got us all thinking about the Red Cross, blood and blood types.
In 1901 Australian physician Karl Landsteiner discovered the first three human blood groups (A, B, O) and in 1940, with the assistance of Alexander Wiener and Philip Levine, discover the Rh blood factor.
Edwin Cohn, in 1940, developed cold ethanol fractionation, which is the process of breaking down blood into albumin, gamma globulin and fibrinogen. That same year “John Elliott developed the first blood container, a vacuum bottle extensively used by the Red Cross.” In 1941 the Red Cross began its National Blood Donor Service to collect blood for the U.S. military. This service was instrumental in the treatment of wounded soldiers; they were treated with dried plasma during WWII and with albumin for shock after the Pearl Harbor attack. In 1945, after collecting more than 13 million pints of blood, the Red Cross ended its WWII blood program.
The first civilian blood collection program began in Rochester, NY in 1948 and by 1949 there were 1,500 hospital blood banks, 46 community blood centers, and 31 American Red Cross regional blood centers. What a difference a year makes!
Hang on puzzlers-here’s where it gets wild! Since 1901 there have been over 300 blood types discovered, each fitting into one of the major four groups which are A, B, AB and O, and, the Rh positive and Rh negatives are as important as the major four groups, especially if you are receiving a transfusion.
The oldest of the blood types is O. It comes from the birthplace of humanity, Africa, and is associated with the hunter-gatherer societies. If you’re a type O you represent about 45% of the American population. Next oldest is A. It is thought to have evolved from the agricultural societies and represents about 42% of the American population. Then there is type B, which makes up for about 8% percent, and the AB’s are at about 5%.
Thank you American Red Cross, and remember "Every minute of every day, someone needs blood. That blood can only come from a volunteer donor, a person like you who makes the choice to donate. There is no substitute for your donation."
Happy Puzzling!
Happy Puzzling!
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