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Give the gift of life! One pint of blood can save up to 3 lives. I am a blood donor and my blood group is O Positive. I donate blood regularly at Fr Muller Charitable College Hospital, Mangalore. I have been donating blood for over 6 years from now and would have donated blood more than 20 times till now. I never had any negative experiences after donating blood. I am healthy enough to donate and never scared of needles. I would want to donate blood as long as I can. I feel proud because of my blood donation it can save up to 3 lives. A feeling of saving someone’s life is beyond anything else.
Blood donation is one of the noblest and greatest donations a person can make towards the society. Blood is our life-sap. It has no substitute. It is not harmful to an adult person to donate blood. Blood is a living tissue made up of blood cells, platelets, and a fluid called plasma that contains protein anda number of other components. The body of the donor can regenerate the blood within few days. So we must come forward to donate blood as it can make sure the return of a dying man again into the light of life. This one simple action would speak for itself about our gentleness, fellow-feelings, kindness and love for humanity. God has created life in this world. By donating blood to the life in need of blood, we save God’s children. Hence by serving man, we serve God.
It is a major concern to the society as donated blood is lifesaving for individuals who need it. Blood is scarce. There is a shortage of active blood donors to meet the need for increased blood demand. Blood donation as a therapeutic exercise. Globally, approximately 80 million units of blood are donated each year. An ailing body needs blood for various reasons. He may be attacked with anemia, undergone an operation or may meet with an accident. But such a patient may die for want of blood as it is not always available. Even a pregnant mother may need blood in case of an emergency situation.
The patient needs blood or his or her group of blood whenever necessary. It is another important thing. Blood has four groups namely, A, B, AB and O. The required group must be the same while transplanting otherwise the transplantation will go in vain and even the patient may die. The man with the O-group blood is called the universal donor as the people having others can accept it. On the contrary, the man with AB group of blood is called the universal receiver as he can accept all groups of blood. Blood can be stored for a limited period of time that is why the blood banks need a steady and constant collection. However, it is very important that while taking blood from a certain person the concerned authority must make sure the blood is not infected.
Who needs blood transfusions?
>Persons who have lost blood because of internal bleeding or severe injuries
>Persons who lose blood during surgical procedures
>Certain individuals with cancer, sickle cell disease, and other disorders
>Emergencies such as car accidents and burns, Automobile Accident 50 units of blood, Heart Surgery 6 units of blood and 6 units of platelets, Burn 20 units of platelets. Organ Transplant 40 units of blood, 30 units of platelets, 20 bags of cryoprecipitate, 25 units of fresh frozen plasma, Bone Marrow Transplant 120 units of platelets and 20 units of blood.
>Certain injuries and illnesses can quickly cause a person’s blood levels to drop. Without enough blood, they will not receive enough oxygen in their body, resulting in death.
Who can donate blood?
There are a few requirements for blood donors; however, most individuals are eligible to donate as often as every 12 weeks. To donate, you must
>Be at least 18 years of age depending on laws
>Weigh at least 50 kg /110 pounds
>Be in good health
>If you are taking medication, you can usually donate blood; inform the blood donation staff before you donate.
Who cannot donate blood?
>If the blood cell count is low
>During pregnancy and until 6 weeks after giving birth
>Having received a tattoo or any body piercing within the past year
>Anyone with a positive test for HIV
>Having had hepatitis at age 11 years or older
>High risk of having HIV because of injection drug use or sexual contacts
>Anyone who has ever received clotting factor concentrates
Benefits
>In patients prone to iron overload, blood donation prevents the accumulation of toxic quantities.
>Donating blood may reduce the risk of heart disease for men.
>Donating blood may not only benefit the person who received the blood cells but may also improve the health of the donor.
>Blood donation also burns the extra calories and reduces your cholesterol level.
>After donating blood, the count of blood cells decreases in our body, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells in order to replenish the loss. So, it stimulates the production of new blood cells and refreshes the system.
>Iron is a mineral that the body needs to produce red blood cells. However, too much iron can be harmful to a person’s health. It can deposit into different organs of the body, such as the liver and heart, and affect the way those organs function.
>Each person who donates blood completes a simple physical examination and short blood test before giving blood. As a result, it is possible that a person could identify unknown health concerns as a part of the blood donation process. These health issues could include blood pressure concerns or low blood counts. Although low blood counts would stop a person from donating, discovering this information could help them pursue more information about their health.
>Donating blood has the power to impact up to three people who need the blood to survive. Knowing that they have made a difference to the lives of others can relieve a person’s stress and make them feel mentally well or better about themselves than they did before.
Awareness
Nowadays a public awareness is noticed to donate blood. Many clubs, colleges, societies, offices, etc. organize blood donation camps on different occasions. It is a healthy gesture. We must keep this aptitude up at any cost. Our blood banks are running short of required blood. By organizing such blood donation camps we may help them to enrich their capacity.
Earlier people had a fear that blood-donation would weaken their body-strength and hamper their natural immunity. Now-a-days people have a scientific bent of mind. Once they are made aware of the fact that the amount of blood taken out from their body is minimal and easily replenished, they can easily let their fears go off. People should understand that their little contribution can prove to be of great help to others. He is also personally benefited. He receives a permit which enables him to fetch a bottle of blood within a year, free of cost. Who knows whether he himself or his near or dear ones, would be saved by that bottle of blood, or not?
Procedure
If a person does decide to donate blood, they should get a good night’s rest before and avoid eating high-fat foods on the day of the testing. High-fat foods may cause false results in some of the tests carried out on the day of giving blood. Drinking plenty of water before and after blood donation can help a person rebuild fluids they have lost by their donation. Those who donate platelets, which are the part of the blood that helps in clotting, should not take aspirin before giving blood. This drug thins the blood, and so the donor may have problems if they experience bleeding. As it takes some time for a person’s body to replace the missing blood, most donors cannot give blood sooner than every 56 days.
Before donating, people must register for donation, complete a medical history, and have a mini-physical examination. These steps help ensure that a person has not been exposed to diseases that could be spread to others by blood donations. The tests also reveal if someone is not a good candidate for giving blood due to personal health concerns. Examples of these issues include low hemoglobin levels or high or low blood pressure.
The donor’s arm is cleaned with an alcohol prep pad, and a member of the donation team inserts a needle into a vein. The needle is brand-new and sterile. The needle is attached to a collection tubing and bag, and the blood will flow into the bag until it is full. A whole blood donation takes 8-10 minutes on average.
When a person has finished donating blood, medical personnel will remove the needle or intravenous catheter, apply pressure with a cotton gauze, and place a bandage over the person’s arm. The donor will usually wait for 10-15 minutes before leaving, during which time they will be encouraged to eat and drink some refreshments.
After the donation, medical teams will take the blood and test it for potential blood-borne diseases. The donating organization usually performs more than a dozen tests to ensure the safety of the donated blood. Donated blood can only last for a certain time and must be used before it expires. As a result, blood banks and hospitals have almost a continuous need for donated blood.
Some of the Blood Facts:
>There is no substitute for human Blood
>Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to all of the body
>Blood fights against infection and helps heal wounds
>Red Blood cells live about 120 days in our bodies.
>Blood centres often run short of type O and B blood.
>Every three seconds someone needs blood.
Donate Blood, Save Lives !
Thanks for reading.
