The Beginning of Donating Blood & Transfusions

Discovering the circulation of blood

Dec 5, 1628

William Harvey discovers the circulation of blood.

First recorded blood transfusion

Jul 13, 1665

The first successful blood transfusion was in 1665 and occurred in England: Physician Richard Lower kept a dog alive by transfusing blood from other dogs

First blood transfusion on humans

Dec 5, 1818

British obstetrician James Blundell performed the first successful transfusion of human blood to a patient.

The start of a program

Dec 5, 1940

The United States government established a national blood collection program called the Red Cross, and started early blood processing program for relief of English war victims.

U.S. Blood banks

Dec 5, 1972

The blood banks moved toward an all-volunteer blood donor system.

21st century

Dec 4, 2016

Now blood is used by researchers to help create medicines and find cures for diseases.