BLOOD DONATION

"NEW BLOOD FOR THE WORLD"

Blood transfusion is a vital component of health care. The threat to life due to insufficient blood stocks and the risk of transfusion-transmissible infections calls for a safe and adequate blood supply for all those requiring transfusion. As the need for blood increases globally, young people can make an important contribution by donating blood and by recruiting other young people to become donors.Blood is the red coloured fluid flowing continuously in our body's circulatory system. About 1/12th of the body weight of a healthy individual is blood. On an average there are about 5 - 6 litres of blood present

There are many situations in which patients need blood to stay alive:

• A patient needs blood after a major accident in which there is loss of blood.
• No major surgery is performed without blood as there is bound to be blood loss.
• On an average, for every open heart surgery about 6 units of blood is required.
• In miscarriage or childbirth, cases the patient may need large amount of blood to be transfused for saving her life and also the child's.
• For patients with blood diseases like severe Anaemias especially Aplastic Anaemias, Leucaemias (blood cancer), Haemophilia (bleeding disorder), Thalassemia etc. repeated blood transfusions are the only solution.
• In many other situations like poisoning, drug reactions, shock, burns, blood transfusion is the only way to save precious human life.

There are three types of blood donors: -

(1) PROFESSIONAL DONORS - They sell their blood, which is of very poor quality and can

transmit very dangerous diseases to the recipient. It is illegal to take blood from any professional donor.

(2) REPLACEMENT DONATION - Healthy relatives and friends of the patient give their blood, of any group, to the blood bank. In exchange, the required number of units in the required blood group is given.

(3) VOLUNTARY DONATION- Here a donor donates blood voluntarily. The blood can be used for any patient even without divulging the identity of the donor. This is the best type of blood donation where a motivated human being gives blood in an act of selfless service.

Any person within the age group of 18 - 60 years with a body weight as minimum 45 kgs, and having hemoglobin content as minimum 12.5 gm%.

So what about the next?

No fumbling.

The global theme for 2010 will be - Young Donors, with the slogan"New blood for the world" It hopes that a new generation of idealistic and motivated voluntary unpaid blood donors will form a pool that provides the safest blood possible for use wherever and whenever it is needed to save life. Youth will, therefore, be the focus of the day.