If donors were paid, some might try to donate diseased blood or donate more than they should. As long as donors drink lots of fluids and eat a hardy meal before and after donating, they shouldn't have to worry about any side effects, she said. It takes 24 hours for a donor's body to replace the loss of volume, but it takes around six weeks to replace the red blood cells. That's why a donor can only give blood once every eight weeks. The blood gets divided into three categories and perishes quickly, Edgecomb said.
Platelets are very delicate, enable cuts to heal and only last for five days.
Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body and only last for 42 days. And plasma is the liquid that keeps the veins pressurized so the platelets and red blood cells can travel throughout the body. If kept in a deep freeze, plasma can be stored for up to a year. Keeping the lines of supply running is a big responsibility. We really work hard for what we get.