Human health timeline: 1910s
Blood transfusions
Blood transfusion has saved the lives of countless people and animals. The technique was developed when treated blood was shown to be safe for transfusion in dogs in 1914. The storage and transfusion of sterile, compatible blood or blood constituents is a routine and life-saving procedure. Its development has a long history and has depended on animal experimentation carried out by many physicians and scientists. Nowadays, over 88 million blood donations are made each year – enough to fill 32 Olympic-sized swimming pools – although this is still not enough to meet demand.1 Research is continuing to find alternative sources of blood and even alternatives to blood.
