This morning we took a field trip to the American Red Cross.
We started out with a tour of the blood center. Our guide led us through the process of blood donation and what all happens to the blood once it is donated. We saw the machines that separate the three components of the blood from each other, and we learned which kind of patients use each of those different components. This is the refrigerator where all the different types of blood are stored. Blood can be stored for up to 42 days.
We started out with a tour of the blood center. Our guide led us through the process of blood donation and what all happens to the blood once it is donated. We saw the machines that separate the three components of the blood from each other, and we learned which kind of patients use each of those different components. This is the refrigerator where all the different types of blood are stored. Blood can be stored for up to 42 days.Inside this machine, platelets (the yellow liquid) are gently "rocked" back and forth. They are stored at room temperature and have to be be in constant motion to prevent them from sticking together. Cancer patients receive these.
Plasma is frozen, and can be stored for up to one year. These frozen packages of plasma are being scanned and packaged in insulated boxes to be shipped to a hospital just north of here. Plasma helps burn victims.
These donors are donating platelets. We are learning how the machines work in that process.
Platelet donation machine in operation. The platelets are being separated out (the yellow bag) by way of centrifuging, while the red blood cells are put back into the donor.
This is the platelet machine before everything is hooked up on it. Pretty amazing! 
In the blood donation room, one of the aides demonstrated on a volunteer each step of the process that they go through when drawing blood from a donor. She wasn't so sure about having the iodine rubbed on her though =).
The second part of our tour was being educated about how to assist someone who is bleeding or choking. The students practiced wrapping up their partner's "wounds" to stop the bleeding. 
After lunch we had a CPR demonstration. 
Leah also tried her hand at resuscitating the baby.
The part that inspired me the most was understanding the importance of preparing a "Family Disaster Supplies Kit" for our family in the event there is an emergency. We brainstormed and took notes on our drive home on what items we need to gather and include in our own disaster kit.
Leah also tried her hand at resuscitating the baby.The part that inspired me the most was understanding the importance of preparing a "Family Disaster Supplies Kit" for our family in the event there is an emergency. We brainstormed and took notes on our drive home on what items we need to gather and include in our own disaster kit.Does your family have a disaster kit in the event you experience an emergency?
~Wee
2 comments:
Great post! I loved the photos. So what do we need, that we might not have on hand for this disaster?
this looks like a great and important field trip! these are the things i miss about homeschooling!
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