SMART THINKING
If you’ve ever thought about donating blood, now is a great time to turn thought into action.
Now is a great time to donate blood.
June 14 is World Blood Donor Day, a campaign run by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness of the need for safe blood from volunteer donors. While blood transfusions were attempted soon after British physician William Harvey discovered the circulation of blood in 1628, it wasn’t until 1880 that the first successful blood transfusion of human blood to a patient was recorded by British obstetrician James Blundell, who used the blood for the treatment of postpartum haemorrhage. According to the Red Cross, someone needs blood every three seconds. Most people who have a major surgical procedure, such as a joint replacement or open heart surgery will have a blood transfusion to replace any blood loss during their surgery. Blood transfusions are also used for patients who have experienced serious injuries from car crashes or natural disasters. Individuals with an illness that causes anaemia, such as leukaemia or kidney disease, will often be the recipients of blood transfusions; according to the Red Cross, one third of blood donations help treat people with cancer. Donated blood can only be stored for 42 days, which is why regular donations are required. Thinking about donating? Go to donateblood.com.au
Researchers from the University of California have found that early deaths of workers using methylene chloride paint strippers are on the rise. The solvent is widely used in paint strippers, cleaners, adhesives and sealants. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has acknowledged 53 fatalities connected to the chemical from 1980 to 2018 in the USA. The new study out of the University of California identified 85 deaths over the same period, most of them occurring in occupational settings (87 per cent). In early 2017, EPA proposed a rule banning almost all methylene chloride strippers in both the workplace and for consumer use. But in 2019, they limited the ban to consumer products while still allowing commercial use to continue unchecked. While the chemical is considered a dangerous good, the solvent can be purchased in hardware stores and online in Australia and New Zealand. Also known as dichloromethane and dichloride, methylene chloride can also be used in pharmaceuticals, film coatings, finishing electronics manufacturing, and as a propellant in aerosols.