Blood is an essential commodity in more than one kind of diseases. The disease may be a chronic and long lasting disease such as anemia and thalassemia or it may be an acute and sudden infliction most significant being trauma and poly trauma cases. One needs an excess of blood in small repeated doses. The other needs an equally large amount of blood in a sudden event.In the current world status of overpopulation, one would think that the blood as a commodity would be easily available. It could have been one of the rare blessings of a global crisis. But no. world over, the doctors, the medical health care staff and the government face a regular shortage of blood. World over, the people dealing with blood and its products face a regular shortage of blood. And they hear the silliest excuses as a reason to abstain from donating blood.One of the commonest reasons is that the blood transfusion causes physical weakness. Not so. The blood transfusion technology is one of the advanced medical technologies. The knowledge regarding blood and its products is ever increasing as is the knowledge regarding the possible complications caused by blood donation and blood transfusion. The medical personnel who help you with blood donation always test you for your eligibility to donate blood. In case there is any possibility of a complication to the donor, the donation is avoided. Besides such blood will invariably insufficient in some respect for the recipient of blood. The body of course can compensate for the small loss of blood (most certified blood banks draw between 330 to 500 ml of blood). Even drinking glucose water can help compensate the loss of blood.Another misconception, especially in males, is that blood donation causes loss of sperm count, or in other words leads to infertility. It’s absolutely absurd to imagine a connection between the two processes. A strong proof is that governments in every nation are fighting the impacts of overpopulation. Yet none has come out with the simple solution of donating blood as a most effective method of contraception. Some may suggest PERFORMANCE as a reason. But as I already explained- no physical weakness results.One frontier where all logic fails is the religious inhibition. No doctor, no blood bank, no government, and no nation have managed to climb over this mind-block yet. The idea usually is that the god made man as a single entity and an IV induced loss of blood is against that concept of ‘one and whole’. They also say that since God preordained life and death, the humans have no right to interrupt. This page is not to debate the religious sensibilities of people. But I hesitate in hesitating when I say that no God and no religion permits one fellow human to be a bystander and watch a fellow human die if there is something he/she can do about it. Besides, if the above religious concepts are endorsed, the entire medical fraternity would be blasphemers, all racing to get to hell first.Some people are simply unconcerned about the donation of blood and blood transfusion. They are either ignorant about blood transfusion or are simply unsympathetic towards the plight of the patients who need the blood transfusion. These are healthy capable and able bodied and able minded people. They spend money on charity and donation of some sort. But won’t donate blood. The very idea of this blog is to educate the ignorant. As to the unsympathetic, I only hope that they never need a transfusion in life.Another major cause even if in a small section, is the unavailability of blood donation facilities. The lack of access to blood collection centrs is a factor in some cases in the third world and yet to emerg countries. With the rapidly developing countryside and increased modernization this problem is gradually but steadily subsiding. The NGOs and the government agencies are in their ever ongoing quest to improve health standards are, holding blood donation camps even in the remotest of the areas, besides providing blood banks. A list of blood banks, kept on this blog will hopefully help you find a centre in your neighborhood.
With continuous progress in medical understanding and medications, the replacement of blood are continuously being discovered and invented. IV fluids are one of the largest used products that reduce the amount of blood transfused. Other forms of medications are also being used that help in faster regeneration of blood. However the place of blood remains intact in a number of situations to warrant a regular and ample source of blood.An essential commodity, blood donation is a boon, a gift of life. With fractionation services available, the uses of blood can increase further, besides decreasing the number of complications resulting sometimes after blood transfusion. Yet despite the separation of components of blood (fractionation), that helps further spread of the benefits of available blood, lack of blood is grossly palpable, felt by every medical and paramedical personnel, working in the emergency department, wards, opd's, and blood banks.It’s a request to everyone reading this blog, if we have managed to convince you about the good of blood donation, go now and donate it. Look up any directory for the closest one. Who knows, you may be there in the nick of time to save a life.
A blood donation is when an individual voluntarily has blood drawn, usually for a blood transfusion to another person.
In the developed world, most blood donors are unpaid volunteers who give blood for a community supply. In poorer countries, established supplies are limited and donors usually give blood when family or friends need a transfusion.
A donor can also have blood drawn for their own future use.
Donating is relatively safe, but some donors have bruising where the needle is inserted or may feel faint.
Potential donors are evaluated for anything that might make their blood unsafe to use. The screening includes testing for diseases that can be transmitted by a blood transfusion, including HIV and viral hepatitis. The donor is also asked about medical history and given a short physical examination to make sure that the donation isn't hazardous to their health. The donor's hematocrit or hemoglobin level is tested to make sure that the loss of blood will not make them anemic, and this check is the most common reason that a donor is ineligible. Pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature are also evaluated. Elderly donors are sometimes also deferred on age alone because of health concerns.The safety of donating blood during pregnancy has not been studied thoroughly and pregnant women are usually deferred
The amount of blood drawn and the methods vary, but a typical donation is about half of a liter of whole blood.
The blood may also be used to manufacture medications using a process called fractionation. The blood is often further processed before transfusion into separate blood products. Some of these components have a short shelf life, and maintaining a constant supply is a persistent problem in many countries.
Blood should not be donated within a period of 3 months, after the first donation. There are three major kinds of donations.An allogeneic (also called homologous) donation is when a donor gives blood for storage at a blood bank for transfusion to an unknown recipient. A directed or replacement donor donation is when a person, often a family member, donates blood for transfusion to a specific individual. The third kind is a person that has blood stored that will eventually be transfused back, usually after surgery. This is called an autologous donation. Blood that is used to make medications can be made from allogeneic donations or from donations exclusively used for manufacturing.
An event where donors come to give allogeneic blood is sometimes called a blood drive or a blood donor session. These can occur at a blood bank but they are often set up at a location in the community such as a shopping center, workplace, school, or a local house of worship.
Directed donations are rare in developed countries like Canada but are common in developing countries such as Ghana. They are often collected immediately before transfusion. Allogeneic donations are typically stored in a blood bank and are rarely used at the location where they were collected.The actual process varies according to the laws of the country, and recommendations to donors vary according to the collecting organization. The process described in this section follows WHO recommendations, but in developing countries many of these are not followed because large numbers of transfusions are frequently used in emergency situations and there is no established supply to draw from.
Most allogeneic blood donors donate as an act of charity and do not expect to receive any direct benefit from the donation.The World Health Organization set a goal in 1997 for all blood donations to come from unpaid volunteer donors, but as of 2006, only 49 of 124 countries surveyed had established this as a standard. Plasmapheresis donors in the United States are still paid for donations. A few countries rely on paid donors to maintain an adequate supply. Some countries, such as Tanzania, have made great strides in moving towards this standard, with 20 percent of donors in 2005 being unpaid volunteers and 80 percent in 2007, but 68 of 124 countries surveyed by WHO had made little or no progress. In some countries, for example Brazil. it is against the law to receive any compensation, monetary or otherwise, for the donation of blood or other human tissues.
In patients prone to iron overload, blood donation prevents the accumulation of toxic quantities.
Blood banks in the United States must label the blood if it is from a therapeutic donor, so most do not accept donations from donors with any blood disease. Others, such as the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, accept blood from donors with hemochromatosis. It is a genetic disorder that does not affect the safety of the blood. Donating blood may reduce the risk of heart disease for men, but the link has not been firmly established.Other incentives are sometimes added by employers, usually time off for the purposes of donating. Blood centers will also sometimes add incentives such as assurances that donors would have priority during shortages or other programs, prize drawings for donors and rewards for organizers of successful drives.
A donor effectively burns about 650 calories by donating one pint of blood.
In the developed world, most blood donors are unpaid volunteers who give blood for a community supply. In poorer countries, established supplies are limited and donors usually give blood when family or friends need a transfusion.
A donor can also have blood drawn for their own future use.
Donating is relatively safe, but some donors have bruising where the needle is inserted or may feel faint.
Potential donors are evaluated for anything that might make their blood unsafe to use. The screening includes testing for diseases that can be transmitted by a blood transfusion, including HIV and viral hepatitis. The donor is also asked about medical history and given a short physical examination to make sure that the donation isn't hazardous to their health. The donor's hematocrit or hemoglobin level is tested to make sure that the loss of blood will not make them anemic, and this check is the most common reason that a donor is ineligible. Pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature are also evaluated. Elderly donors are sometimes also deferred on age alone because of health concerns.The safety of donating blood during pregnancy has not been studied thoroughly and pregnant women are usually deferred
The amount of blood drawn and the methods vary, but a typical donation is about half of a liter of whole blood.
The blood may also be used to manufacture medications using a process called fractionation. The blood is often further processed before transfusion into separate blood products. Some of these components have a short shelf life, and maintaining a constant supply is a persistent problem in many countries.
Blood should not be donated within a period of 3 months, after the first donation. There are three major kinds of donations.An allogeneic (also called homologous) donation is when a donor gives blood for storage at a blood bank for transfusion to an unknown recipient. A directed or replacement donor donation is when a person, often a family member, donates blood for transfusion to a specific individual. The third kind is a person that has blood stored that will eventually be transfused back, usually after surgery. This is called an autologous donation. Blood that is used to make medications can be made from allogeneic donations or from donations exclusively used for manufacturing.
An event where donors come to give allogeneic blood is sometimes called a blood drive or a blood donor session. These can occur at a blood bank but they are often set up at a location in the community such as a shopping center, workplace, school, or a local house of worship.
Directed donations are rare in developed countries like Canada but are common in developing countries such as Ghana. They are often collected immediately before transfusion. Allogeneic donations are typically stored in a blood bank and are rarely used at the location where they were collected.The actual process varies according to the laws of the country, and recommendations to donors vary according to the collecting organization. The process described in this section follows WHO recommendations, but in developing countries many of these are not followed because large numbers of transfusions are frequently used in emergency situations and there is no established supply to draw from.
Most allogeneic blood donors donate as an act of charity and do not expect to receive any direct benefit from the donation.The World Health Organization set a goal in 1997 for all blood donations to come from unpaid volunteer donors, but as of 2006, only 49 of 124 countries surveyed had established this as a standard. Plasmapheresis donors in the United States are still paid for donations. A few countries rely on paid donors to maintain an adequate supply. Some countries, such as Tanzania, have made great strides in moving towards this standard, with 20 percent of donors in 2005 being unpaid volunteers and 80 percent in 2007, but 68 of 124 countries surveyed by WHO had made little or no progress. In some countries, for example Brazil. it is against the law to receive any compensation, monetary or otherwise, for the donation of blood or other human tissues.
In patients prone to iron overload, blood donation prevents the accumulation of toxic quantities.
Blood banks in the United States must label the blood if it is from a therapeutic donor, so most do not accept donations from donors with any blood disease. Others, such as the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, accept blood from donors with hemochromatosis. It is a genetic disorder that does not affect the safety of the blood. Donating blood may reduce the risk of heart disease for men, but the link has not been firmly established.Other incentives are sometimes added by employers, usually time off for the purposes of donating. Blood centers will also sometimes add incentives such as assurances that donors would have priority during shortages or other programs, prize drawings for donors and rewards for organizers of successful drives.
A donor effectively burns about 650 calories by donating one pint of blood.
Thought about blood donation? So many people in India undergo trauma and surgery every day. And both the situations amongst many others need blood transfusion as an essential part of the treatment. Have you ever tried donating blood? It’s not painful- not beyond the first prick at least. And if that one prick can help save a life, isn’t it worth it? Try donating blood at least once. Try it today. There is no complication. There is no side effect. There is no time consuming long procedure.
Try it... save a life....
Try it... save a life....
1 comment:
A blood donation is when a healthy person voluntarily has blood drawn. The blood is used for transfusions or made into medications by a process called fractionation.In the developed world, most blood donors are unpaid volunteers who give blood for a community supply. In poorer countries, established supplies are limited and donors usually give blood when family or friends need a transfusion. Many donors donate as an act of charity, but some are paid and in some cases there are incentives other than money. A donor can also have blood drawn for their own future use. Donating is relatively safe, but some donors have bruising where the needle is inserted or may feel faint. Potential donors are evaluated for anything that might make their blood unsafe to use. The screening includes testing for diseases that can be transmitted by a blood transfusion, including HIV and viral hepatitis. The donor is also asked about medical history and given a short physical examination to make sure that the donation is not hazardous to their health. The most common reason that a donor is ineligible is that they do not have enough red blood cells and a donation could make them anemic. How often a donor can give varies from days to months based on what they donate and the laws of the country where the donation takes place.
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