When we need blood for ourself or for a relative, we think that its our right to receive blood. We are ready to pay money for a few bottles of blood but unfortunately it is not something that can be manufactured in a factory as needed. If you expect to receive blood during emmergency or as a part of treatment, then you should certainly do the noble act of blood donation regularly to save life of others. If even half of the people who are eligible to donate blood do it once or twice a year, then we will not have blood shortages. It takes just half hour to donate blood, then why not take that short time from our busy lives and participate in a nearby blood donation program. There is no substitute for human blood.
June 14th is the World Blood Donor Day, blood donation might sound like a scary thing to many, but frankly it is very easy task. People often compare that what if they lost that same amount of blood in an injury or accident, frankly both are incomparable situations, because during an accident there are other bodily injuries which cause most pain and not just the loss of blood. The demand for blood is increasing as surgeries that require more transfusions become common. Often hospitals around the world have to postpone surgeries because of a lack of available blood.
There are several benefits of blood donation to the donor himself:
1. The Kansas University Medical Center found that men who participate in blood donation experience a 30 percent fewer incidents of heart disease and stroke compared to those people who did not.
2. In 1998 American Journal of Epidemiology published that blood donation can reduce the overall iron levels in blood, which may protect against heart attack. But this applies to people who had high iron in their blood to begin with.
3. Blood donation forces your body to replace the lost blood with fresh NEW cells.
4. Men do not have menstrual period, therefore they store iron in their bodies, often its more than they need.
5. A healthy body replaces blood within 48 hours and creates NEW red blood cells within a week.
6. Most blood donation sites check your heart rate, hemoglobin, blood pressure etc.. for FREE. If you get those checked in a regular doctor's clinic, it will cost you money.
7. You hardly lose blood, average adult has 10 pints of total blood, we donate just 1 pint. Giving blood will not decrease your strength.
8. Most employers usually give time off when you want to donate blood.
Types of Blood Groups:
There are four blood groups: Type A, Type B, Type AB, and Type O. Additionally there are positive and negative types of each blood group. Type O negative is are "universal donors", which means all blood types can usually receive Type O negative blood donation. Blood centers often run short of types O and B red blood cells.
Blood donation Pre-Screening:
The nurse (or medical expert) taking your blood will ask you some questions which will determine whether or not you are eligible to donate blood and then perform some basic health checks. Questions include any medication you are taking, your current and health in recent days/months, your age, height, weight, recent travel, sex and tattooing history. Blood donor requirements change very frequently. Anyone who is in good health, is at least 17 years old, and weighs at least 110 pounds (about 50 kgs) may donate blood every once in 2-3 months.
Snacks and drinks are provided to the blood donors to help restore blood sugar. It is advisable to sit for a few minutes, then eat well and drink enough water for the next few days. You cannot get AIDS or any other blood disease by donating blood if a new needle before you donate blood. Blood makes up about 7 percent of your body's weight
Products derived from whole blood:
- Red blood cells >> carry oxygen
- Platelet concentrates >> body's clotting system to help control bleeding.
- Plasma (yellow liquid portion) an helps to restores fluid volume.
- Cryoprecipitate and Fractionation.
"DONATE BLOOD SAVE LIFE"
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