Why Blood Donation Is Important

 

Why are blood donations so important, including during a pandemic? Who benefits from them? And what happens when a person goes to donate blood?

Blood is a precious resource in healthcare the world over. According to data from the American Red Cross, in the United States alone, an estimated 6.8 million people choose to donate blood.

The World Health Organization (WHO) note that, at a global level, blood donation centres collect around 118.5 million blood donations every year.

According to the WHO, in low income countries, children younger than 5 years old are the primary beneficiaries of blood donations, while in high income countries, older adults aged 60 years and above are on the receiving end of most blood transfusions.

But, regardless of where in the world people live, why is it so important that they donate blood if they can?

What is Blood Donation?

Donating blood is good for the health of donors as well as those who need it. It is important that blood donation takes place in a hospital, a clinic or a blood bank, in the presence of medical experts.

Donors should ensure that they are in good health to avoid any health issues post-transfusion to those who use it.

Donating blood can help in treating patients suffering from cancer, bleeding disorders, chronic anaemia associated with cancer, sickle cell anaemia, and other hereditary blood abnormalities.

It is important to know that human blood cannot be manufactured, people are the only source of it and that is why it is important to donate blood and help those who need it.

It is also possible to store your own blood for our future needs. Make sure the blood is stored at a good blood bank.

A mini health exam that includes a checklist for diseases related to blood pressure and infectious diseases should be conducted before initiating the collection of blood. Those who have medical conditions such as AIDS and hepatitis should not donate blood.

People who have taken vaccinations or have undergone any surgery or have cancer, diabetes, cold, and flu should consult health experts before donating blood. Pregnant women should seek expert advice before donating blood.

 

Facts about the Blood Donation Process:

·    Donating blood is safe. A new sterile needle is used once for each donor, then discarded.

·        After registration, a medical history is taken.

·       Blood donors get a “mini-physical”: temperature, blood pressure, and pulse are monitored, and haemoglobin is screened, to make sure the donor can give blood safely.

·    The entire process of donating blood, from registration through refreshments, takes about an hour.

·       The actual donation process only takes 10 to 15 minutes.

·       A healthy blood donor can donate red blood cells every 56 days, or can donate plasma every 7 days (with a limit of 24 times a year).

·     All donated blood is tested for hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis, and other infectious diseases.

Blood Donation Facts:

·         Hospital patients need about 44,000 blood donations DAILY

·         Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood

·         About 6.8 million people donate blood annually

·         38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate; only 10% actually do

·         During a blood donation, 1 pint of blood (or 480 mL) is taken.

·         1 pint of blood can save up to 3 lives

·         Blood is comprised of red blood cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate.

·         2 or 3 of these components are produced from a pint of blood

·        Blood donations are used in:

·         Cancer care

·         Surgeries

·         Treatment of serious diseases

·         Trauma

Benefits of Blood Donation:

Blood donation not only makes the receiver’s life good but also helps the donor to maintain good health. The health benefits of donating blood are mentioned below.

Prevents hemochromatosis:

Health benefits of blood donation include reduced risk of hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis is a health condition that arises due to excess absorption of iron by the body. This may be inherited or may be caused due to alcoholism, anaemia or other disorders.

Regular blood donation may help in reducing iron overload. Make sure that the donor meets the standard blood donation eligibility criteria.

Anti-cancer benefits:

Blood donation helps in lowering the risk of cancer. By donating blood, the iron stores in the body are maintained at healthy levels. A reduction in the iron level in the body is linked with low cancer risk.

Maintains healthy heart & liver:

Blood donation is beneficial in reducing the risk of heart and liver ailments caused by the iron overload in the body. Intake of iron-rich diet may increase the iron levels in the body, and since only limited proportions can be absorbed, excess iron gets stored in heart, liver, and pancreas.

This, in turn, increases the risk of cirrhosis, liver failure, damage to the pancreas, and heart abnormalities like irregular heart rhythms. Blood donation helps in maintaining the iron levels and reduces the risk of various health ailments.

Weight loss:

Regular blood donation reduces the weight of the donors. This is helpful to those who are obese and are at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and other health disorders.

However, blood donation should not be very frequent and you may consult your doctor before donating blood to avoid any health issues.

Stimulates blood cell production:

After donating blood, the body works to replenish the blood loss. This stimulates the production of new blood cells and in turn, helps in maintaining good health.

Side effects of donating blood:

Blood donation is safe for healthy adults. There’s no risk of contracting disease. New, sterile equipment is used for each donor.

Some people may feel nauseous, lightheaded, or dizzy after donating blood. If this happens, it should only last a few minutes. One can lie down with the feet up at the until he/she feel better.

We may also experience some bleeding at the site of the needle. Applying pressure and raising our arm for a couple of minutes will usually stop this. We may develop a bruise at the site.

Call the blood donation centre if:

·     One still feel lightheaded, dizzy, or nauseous after drinking, eating, and resting.

·      One develops a raised bump or continue bleeding at the needle site.

·      One have arm pain, numbness, or tingling.

During the donation:

One must register to donate blood. This includes providing identification, our medical history, and undergoing a quick physical examination. We’ll also be given some information about blood donation to read.

Once we’re ready, our blood donation procedure will begin. Whole blood donation is the most common type of donation. This is because it offers the most flexibility. It can be transfused as whole blood or separated into red cells, platelets, and plasma for different recipients.

For a whole blood donation procedure:

·     We’ll be seated in a reclining chair. We can donate blood either sitting or lying down.

·        A small area of your arm will be cleaned. A sterile needle will then be inserted.

·    We’ll remain seated or lying down while a pint of your blood is drawn. This takes 8 to 10 minutes.

·      When a pint of blood has been collected, a staff member will remove the needle and bandage our arm.

Things before Donation:

Here are some important things to know before we donate:

·    We need to be 17 or older to donate whole blood. Some states allow you to donate at 16 with parental consent.

·       We have to weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health to donate.

·      We need to provide information about medical conditions and any medications we’re taking. These may affect our eligibility to donate blood.

·     We must wait at least 8 weeks between whole blood donations and 16 weeks between double red cell donations.

·        Platelet donations can be made every 7 days, up to 24 times per year.

Cons of Blood Donation:

There’s no doubt that donating blood can do a lot of good: Donating just one pint of blood can save more than one person’s life, according to the American Red Cross. About 36,000 pints of blood are needed every day in the United States, and 6.8 million people donate a year.

But blood donation isn’t without its disadvantages. Each donor is given a mini physical examination, but there are still some minor side effects that could occur. These include:

·         Bruising

·         Continued bleeding

·         Dizziness, Lightheadedness, and Nausea

·         Pain

·         Physical Weakness     

Donating blood is a safe process, but there are some things we should know before we donate.

While donating blood can cause minor side effects, it’s an extremely helpful act that can do a lot of good. In the United States, someone needs blood every two seconds.

The most sought-after donors are those with type O blood, because they’re considered “universal donors” whose blood can be matched with those belonging to any of the four blood types: A, B, AB, and O.

Written by – Sakshi Chauhan