Blood donation and its importance

Blood donation has become a social responsibility. Healthy individuals donate blood to save lives. Millions of people every year become dependent on blood donations. There is a daily need for blood donation as it can be stored only for a specific time. Donation drives happen all over the world where healthy people fit for blood donation come together and donate it for a good cause.

Why is it important?

Blood brings oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. It is important for our survival. People suffering from conditions like Haemophilia, cancer, transplant, pregnancy, major surgeries, accidents, etc require blood in huge amounts to make up for the inability of their body to not create red blood cells or to counteract major blood loss. There are several blood types and rare blood types are always needed. O-negative blood type is a rare type that can be given to patients of any blood type, hence donations of O-negative blood are tremendously needed. A donor can help up to 3 people with a single blood donation. Blood donations are divided into red blood cells, platelets, and plasma and therefore, they can be used individually for patients suffering from several diseases.

Advantages of blood donation

There are many advantages of donating blood. To list a few:

-          Reduces the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular accidents.

-          Balances hematocrit levels in our body.

-          Stimulates production of new blood cells.

-          Identifying adverse health effects.

-          Contribution to the community.

Who can and cannot give blood?

A healthy person can restore donated blood in 60 days, so a donor can donate blood every 2 months. A blood donor has to meet the following criteria: (as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. 1940)

Age: between 18 to 60 years.

Body weight: 45 kg and above.

Pulse rate: 60 to 100 per minute and regular

Blood pressure: Systolic 100 to 140, Diastolic 70 to 100.

Hemoglobin: minimum 12.5gm/100ml of blood.

Conditions that exempt people from blood donations are life-threatening illness, pregnancy or breastfeeding, anemia, low BMI, recent tattoos, recent major operations, taking antibiotics, and cold/flu symptoms.

All in all, donating blood is an act of kindness. No technology can produce human blood, hence, we are solely responsible for donating blood which can then save countless lives.