Donation of blood is an act of kindness and care for the fellow human beings. There is no gift more valuable than a Gift of Blood, as it is actually a Gift of Life for the person who receives it.It saves Life of someone somewhere in the world. It's like giving another life to someone. It may be the best gift for someone who receives it in their life.
Why Donate Blood?
Emergencies occur every minute in different parts of the world. For each patient requiring blood, it is an emergency and the patients could have set back if blood is not available.Your blood donation may be even more special than you realize.A single donation from you can help one or more patients. This is possible because whole blood is made up of several useful components. These components perform special functions in your body and in the body of patients who receive your blood. The various blood components are Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, Platelets, Plasma and selected Plasma Proteins. Each of these components can be separated from your donated volume of blood and transfused into a specific patient requiring that particular component. Thus, many can benefit from one unit of blood.
Where Blood is needed?
Blood is needed every minute. Blood is needed
1. To replace blood lost because of accidents or diseases.
2. For Major & Minor surgeries including open heart surgeries, transplants etc.
3. For burn victims.
4. For patients suffering from Anemia.
5. During child birth for the mother.
6. For exchange transfusion for new born infants.
7. To make blood derivatives which are used to treat medical problems.
8. For children suffering from ailments like Thalassaemia, Hemophilia (bleeding disorders), Leukemia, Blood Cancer.
Who can donate Blood?
Let others benefit from your good health. Do donate blood if
1. you are between age group of 18-60 years.
2. your weight is 45 kgs or more.
3. your haemoglobin is 12.5 gm% minimum.
4. your last blood donation was 3 months earlier.
5. you are healthy and have not suffered from malaria, typhoid or other transmissible disease in the recent past.
Who can't donate Blood?
It is advised to the volunteers who are willing to donate blood that not donate blood if they have any of these conditions
1. Malaria (within 1 year)
2. Hepatitis B, C
3. Any other type of Jaundice (within 16 years)
4. AIDS
5. Tuberculosis (within 2 years)
6. Diabetes (under medication currently)
7. Fits/ Convulsions (under medication currently)
8. Cancer
9. Leprosy or any other infectious diseases
10. Any allergies (Only if you are suffering from severe symptoms)
11. Hemophilia/ Bleeding problems
12. Kidney disease
13. Heart disease
14. Chicken Pox (within 1 year)
15. Hormonal disorders
16. Hemoglobin deficiency / Anemia (recently)
17. Drastic weight loss (recently)
18. Small Pox Vaccination (within the last 3weeks)
19. Blood Donation (within the last 3 months)
20. Blood Transfusion (within the last 6 months)
21. Major Surgery (within the last 3 months)
22. Pregnancy (within the last 6 months)
23. Organ Transplant (within one year)
Donating blood is safe and simple. But one must be healthy to give 'safe blood'.It takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete the blood donation process. Any healthy adult between 18 years and 60 years of age can donate blood.
It is always best to follow the rules and be truthful about our health status. But the doctors or nurses will also ensure the health of blood, before they take it, as well as after it is collected. Firstly, the donor is expected to be honest about his or her health history and current condition. Secondly, collected blood is tested for venereal diseases, hepatitis B & C and AIDS.
The one who is willing to donate his/her blood may be asked a few questions and also to fill some short form and then a quick physical check will be done to check temperature, blood pressure, pulse and haemoglobin content in blood to ensure whether one is a fit/proper/healthy donor to donate the blood.
If found fit to donate, then he/she will be asked to lie down on a resting chair or a bed. Then using sterile equipments blood will be collected in a special plastic bag . Approximately 350 ml of blood will be collected in one donation. Those whose weigh more than 60 Kg can even donate 450 ml of blood.
Blood will be separated into components within eight hours of donation
The blood will then be taken to the laboratory for testing.
Once found safe, it will be kept in special storage and released when required.
The blood is now ready to be taken to the hospital, to save lives.
DONATE BLOOD, SAVE LIVES !!!
