Blood donors needed
London's hospitals are calling for more blood and bone marrow donors.
Pregnant women are also being urged to donate their placenta as part of a scheme to help seriously ill people with the blood that's found inside.
What is bone marrow ?
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In adults, marrow in large bones produces new blood cells which helps the body to fight disease.
On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans.
Stem cells in this bone marrow produce three important types of blood cells:
Red blood cells – which carry oxygen around the body.
White blood cells – which help fight infection.
Platelets – which help stop bleeding.
Diseased or damaged bone marrow can be replaced by donated bone marrow, which helps treat, and often cure, many serious, life-threatening conditions, including:
Bone marrow failure -(severe aplastic anaemia).
Leukaemia – cancer of the white blood cells, which has several sub-types. It can also help cure certain genetic blood.
Certain immune system disorders such as sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia and some severe immune system diseases.
More top news
-
Police create dispersal zones around south London raves
The unlicensed events unfolded on Saturday night at Clapham Common and Tooting Bec Common.
-
Second man dies in River Thames drowning
A 37 year old man who was taken to hospital after getting into difficulty in a stretch of water near Maidenhead has died.
-
Teenager jailed for throwing six year old boy off Tate balcony
Jonty Bravery, who is mentally ill, has been jailed for 15 years after throwing a six year old boy from the Tate modern balcony.