Most people can’t handle the sight of blood. It’s generally revered as stomach-turning, inciting the worry that something has gone terribly wrong for this thick, red fluid to be revealing itself on the surface. On the contrary, blood is quite beautiful.
[youtube ratio=”0.5625″ position=”standard” ]
This powerhouse fluid is constantly circulating throughout the human body, which contains anywhere between 5 to 7 liters on average, regulating oxygen levels, nutrients and waste removal. For sick people in need around the world, blood gives them a chance at survival; in fact, it’s estimated that every three seconds, someone needs blood. That’s why blood donation and the willingness of volunteers is paramount.
Netherlands nonprofit Sanquin, a blood supply organization, recently released a video illustrating the journey of blood from the time of donation to its final destination: saving a life. If you’ve ever donated blood, you may have believed the process to be simple: sit in a chair, allow time to pass and walk out feeling rewarded for a good deed done.
Though that’s where it all begins, the blood donated by volunteers goes through a lengthy process from testing to more testing to preparation before it can be delivered to those in need. Watch the video above for a closer look at the journey of your blood in the selfless act of donating.
