Blood Donation: It’s importance and why you need to do it regularly

Blood is the fluid that ferries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. It also helps in eliminating waste from the body. Depending on the size, an average body contains 4-6 litres of blood. There are thousands of pints of blood required on a daily basis to save people’s lives.

People need blood transfusions for the following:

• Accidents
• Cancer
• Sickle cell
• Premature birth
• Surgery 

Why donate blood?

• Most of serious health problems use blood donated by people to save lives. Donated blood can last up to 40 days. It must be disposed off then. This means we need to regularly replenish blood so it can be useful for a dying soul.
• Your blood donation is important because it can save a life of a child, mother, father, grandfather or grandmother.
• Making blood on our own is a gift from GOD which we can provide to those who are sick or in need.

Blood Donors

• Both men and women aged 18-55 years and weighing 50 kg or more, with normal pulse rate, body temperature and blood pressure can donate blood.
• You cannot donate blood in case you are suffering from epilepsy, psychotic disorders, asthma, heart ailments, abnormal bleeding tendencies, malignancy etc.
• However, if you have malaria, hepatitis, mumps or measles, you can donate blood but only after full recovery with 3-6 months gap.
• If you are one of those who have earlier received a blood transfusion, don’t worry. You can also donate blood after 6-12 months.

Our body contains 5.5 litres of blood out of which only 350-45-ml is taken depending upon the weight of donor. Most donors recover withdrawn blood within 24 hours of donation and haemoglobin in 2 months. Therefore, it is completely secure to donate blood every 3 months.

Myths busted about blood donation

• Blood donation never leads to any kind of weakness or tiredness.
• Government of India had already issues the NOC stating that it can take blood from any licensed blood bank.
• Blood bank is not a profit making service.
• Any healthy person between 18-60 years of age can donate blood.

Instructions for blood donors

• Eat something light at least 2 hours before blood donation.
• Women should not donate blood during their menses.
• Alcoholics should never donate blood. If you have consumed alcohol and still want to donate blood, maintain a gap of 24 hours.
• If you had undergone any surgery, you should avoid donating blood for 6 months.
• Pregnant and lactating women should avoid donating blood. 

Remember, not everyone can save a life. But if you are one of those who can, it’s an opportunity to grab. Don’t let it go. 

World Blood Donor Day: Reasons why you should donate blood

World Blood Donor Day (commonly referred as World Blood Donation Day) is observed each year on 14^th June. Nobel Prize winner, Mr. Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the ABO blood group, is honoured on this day by countries across the globe. World Blood Donor Day is observed to raise the awareness about the need for donating blood and save the lives of other people.

Some of us have the worst fears when we think about blood tests or blood donations. While blood tests cannot be delayed for any longer than we try, we wonder why anyone would voluntarily go and have themselves pricked to give out blood. Well, beyond this fear are a lot of reasons to donate blood, which you should know so that you can get over this fear and get down to doing your bit for those who need blood every day, every two seconds. Though there definitely may be many more reasons why people don't want to or cannot donate blood, here we try to give you positive reasons to do your bit for those around you. Take a look.

There are certain individuals who need blood all the time. For instance, those who suffer from leukaemia need numerous blood transfusions so that their bodies function as normally as possible. This is just one of the reasons why someone may need blood. Others may require transfusions because of severe loss of blood in an accident. In essence, once you identify the needs people have, you will be able to convince yourself that donating blood is a great idea.

• The blood donation process is short, and will not hurt you in any way. The prick of the needle is hardly sensed, and if you look away, you won't have to see blood at all. The blood donation process will not last for more than half an hour to one hour and the process of blood extraction will last only about ten minutes.
• Unless you are low on iron (which will be checked before you donate blood), your body will not be harmed in any way by giving away some blood. The blood you donate is replenished within one day and you are not even going to feel weak (you will be given refreshments immediately after you have donated blood); so you really have nothing to be worried about. You can resume your work on the same day.
• If you are worried about contracting diseases in the process of blood donation, you should go only to well-established blood donation centres or campaigns.
• Blood is easily perishable, that is it cannot last more than 42 days. So you can see that regular supplies of blood are always required by blood banks.
• The different components of your blood can save three or four different people at a time, who suffer from conditions such as cancer, anaemia, and leukaemia. Don't you think that's a very generous contribution by you?
• Before a blood donation you are given a quick but complete check up, free of cost. This means you get to monitor your own health in the process of helping someone improve theirs. Also you get to know if you have low haemoglobin levels or any related problems that you can treat before you head off for the next blood donation drive in town.

Finally, you will save innumerable lives by giving your blood to those who need it. You will feel great about yourself and the fact that you could give something back to your community. Do you need any other reason to donate blood? Not really. These reasons should have given you enough to think about and do something about the growing need for blood in your community, to which there is no alternative but healthier blood that can be provided by a healthy individual such as you.