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Activities

Word Find Try our Word Find and learn about Canada's blood system during the game. Go to Word Find >>

Curriculum-appropriate activities Download a list of activities to share with youth - mathematical questions, vocabulary lists, health and physical activities and language questions. These activities are based on the All About Blood elementary school program offered in Southwestern Ontario. All About Blood activities (PDF: 136 K)

Project starters - Research topics

Our history Blood storage Blood components Tattoos & Body Piercings Anticoagulants Red Gold: The epic story of blood

Our history Created in 1998, Canadian Blood Services is the successor to the Canadian Red Cross Blood Program and the Canadian Blood Agency (the former funding arm of Canada's blood supply system). Our governance structure >> Our collection programs >> /\ Top

Blood storage Red blood cells have a shelf life of 42 days and are stored in a temperature-controlled environment to maintain and preserve the integrity of the red blood cells. Blood components are stored at either 22 degrees Celsius, two to six degrees Celsius, or at different temperatures below zero. More on blood shelf life >> /\ Top

Blood components Each donation of whole blood can be separated into three main components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Blood components >> Blood types and Rh system >> Camouflaging blood >> /\ Top

Tattoos & Body Piercings We currently defer donors who have had a tattoo or body piercing for six months because of the infectious risks associated with crossing the skin barrier. More on Tattoos & Body Piercings >> /\ Top

Anticoagulants Blood has the unique ability to plug holes in the system of veins and arteries that it travels through. This causes a serious problem for bugs and animals that live on blood. More on blood suckers >> /\ Top

Red Gold: The epic story of blood View Red Gold – The Epic Story of Blood which premiered on PBS Television. /\ Top