Blood is a unique organ in which cells are not bonded together but move freely in plasma. Blood plays an important role in the human body: it transfers oxygen and different substances to places of their effect or processing by cells and carries waste products from tissues so that they could be removed from the body. Significant loss of blood, such as occurs in an accident, puts a person in a mortal danger. Additionally, there are diseases in prevent blood from carrying out one or more of its functions. Blood transfusion (the artificial transfer of blood from one person to another) can save a human’s life in these situations. Despite much research efforts, there is simply no substitute for blood that has been located or which can be created in the lab.
This unit focuses on blood properties, blood donation and conditions that must be ensured so that transfusion would not endanger patient’s life. Students are given an opportunity to look up information on their own, to process and present this information, work in a team and identify with roles of different experts. They become familiar with aids necessary for taking blood and for its storage. They plan experiments and perform observation.
