Interesting facts about Blood Donation
A blood donation happens when a person gives their consent to have their blood drawn and used for transfusions or fractionated into biopharmaceutical drugs. Donations may be made of whole blood or specialised components. The gift of blood saves lives, and there is a high demand for blood and blood products.
World Blood Donor Day.
Every 14th of June, World Blood Donor Day is observed to honour volunteer blood donors who have saved many lives.
Why Do You Donate Blood?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), despite our large population, India runs out of two million units of blood every year. Just one unit of blood is given during a donation, despite the fact that an adult has ten units of blood in their body. Almost three lives can be saved with a single donation. Blood donation is regarded as a global act of charity, and anybody who is capable of doing so should do so.
Donating Blood is Good for the Donor
Blood donation is beneficial not only to the recipient but also to the donor. Donating blood regularly prevents the development of medical conditions such as hemochromatosis (a disorder caused by the body’s excessive absorption of iron), has anti-cancer effects, helps in weight loss, and activates blood cell production.
It’s called autologous donation when you want to donate and save your blood for a potential medical emergency. If you’re going to be an autologous donor, talk to your doctor.
Your Blood Group and the Donation Process
In India, just 7% of people have an O-negative blood type. Donors with the blood type O are universal donors since their blood can be supplied to people with any blood type. The AB blood group is found in 0.4 per cent of the population. Plasma from AB-type blood donors is often used in emergencies, for newborns, and for patients needing large transfusions.
Blood Donation is A Safe Process
Before being transfused to patients, all donated blood is screened for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and other infectious diseases. Each donor receives only one sterile needle, which is then discarded. Registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation and refreshments are the four steps in the blood donation process.
Every blood donor undergoes a mini-physical test, which involves testing the donor’s temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and haemoglobin levels to ensure that donating blood is healthy.
How Often Can You Donate?
A healthy donor will donate red blood cells once every 56 days, double red blood cells once every 112 days, and platelets once every seven days, up to a total of 24 times per year.
Blood Transfusion
Blood makes up about 7% of the overall body weight. Red cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate are the four forms of transfusable blood products. Donors have the option of giving whole blood or individual blood components. Apheresis is the practice of donating particular blood components such as red cells, plasma, or platelets.
One transfusion dose of platelets can be received by mixing platelets from five whole blood donations or one apheresis donation of platelets. Platelets are usually used within five days of being collected.
Did You Know?
If you started giving blood at the age of 18 and did so every 90 days until you were 60, you will have donated at least 112 litres of blood, potentially saving over 500 lives!
Blood is Life
Your body will replenish the elements given during a blood donation — some in hours, others in weeks. Blood cannot be produced; it must come from willing donors. Human blood is the only thing that can replace it.
How Can You Become a Donor?
If you’re thinking of being a blood donor, there are a few requirements you must fulfil. 1. You must be at least 18 years old. 2. In good physical condition, 3. Comply with the weight restrictions (50kgs)
