Every June 14th is World Blood Donor Day, which is designated to encourage more people to donate blood voluntarily, publicize and promote the implementation of the Global Blood Safety Program by the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross,Red Crescent Societies,the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations,and the International Society of Blood Transfusio.
The theme for 2023 is: Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often
What do you need to know about blood donation? In this article,we will share something you must know as follows:
· What are the benefits of donating blood?
· What to do before donating blood?
· What are the steps to donate blood?
· What to pay attention to after donating blood?
· When is blood transfusion required clinically?
· Who can't donate blood?
· Your blood donation essentials
What are the benefits of donating blood?
1. Blood flow is smoother.
Dr. Philip Christopher, director of the Loyola University Blood Bank in the United States, said: "People who donate blood frequently are less likely to be hospitalized. Repeated blood donation will cause less damage to the intima of the blood vessel and less blockage of the artery." Published in the "American Journal of Epidemiology" Blood donors also have a lower risk of heart attack, stroke and cancer, according to a study published online.
2. It is equivalent to a mini medical examination.
Before each blood donation, doctors will check the donor's temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin level. After the blood sample is collected, lab personnel test the blood for 13 different infectious diseases, including HIV and West Nile virus. If any of the tests come back positive, you cannot be a donor. If the results of the physical examination are qualified every time you donate blood, it proves that the donor is very healthy and free from other diseases.
3. The content of iron in the body will remain in balance.
A healthy adult normally has 5 grams of iron in their body, mostly in red blood cells and bone marrow. After donating 200ml of blood, the body loses only about a quarter of a gram of iron; this amount can be replaced in the diet for a few weeks after the donation. However, excessive iron content in the blood can damagew blood vessel health, and appropriately reducing iron content can help reduce the risk of diseases related to vascular malformations, such as heart disease and stroke.
4. Live longer.
Doing good things for others can also make you live longer. A study published in the "Journal of Health Psychology" showed that people who regularly voluntarily donated blood had a significantly lower mortality rate after 4 years. For every blood donation, 3 lives can be saved, according to Dr. DeSimone.
What to do before donating blood?
Safety is at the forefront of everything we do, and this is the reason we have one of the safest blood supplies in the world.
1. Before donating blood, you need to meet the conditions: good health, no anemia, cold and fever, etc. Women should not donate blood during menstruation.
2. Do not take medicine or drink alcohol before donating blood.
3. Ensure adequate sleep and refrain from strenuous exercise the day before blood donation.
4. Eat a light diet with less fat two days before blood donation.
5. If you have donated blood before, you need to confirm that the interval between two blood donations has been 6 months.
What are the steps to donate blood?
1.Blood donation registration: Bring valid identity documents such as your ID card.
2.Cleaning: Scrub the arms and disinfect with tincture of iodine.
3.Check before blood collection: Answer questions from the blood collection personnel, such as "what's your name", "what's your blood type", etc.
4.Appropriate time for blood collection: If you have donated blood before, you need to confirm that the interval between two blood donations has been 6 months.
5.Blood collection: Lie on the blood collection chair and keep a tilted posture. Please clench your fists tightly before the puncture. Once the blood collection needle penetrates the vein, make a clenched-relaxed movement until the blood collection is completed.
6.Hemostasis: Press and hold the hemostatic ball for at least 5 minutes after blood collection.
What to pay attention to after donating blood?
1. Protect the venipuncture site, do not soak it in water within 24 hours, do not be polluted by unclean objects, and do not rub the site.
2. Personal activities should be moderate. Do not perform physical labor on the day after blood donation, do not engage in sports competitions, all-night entertainment and other activities.
3. Do not overdose on nutritional supplements. You can eat fresh fruits and vegetables, soy products, dairy products, fish, shrimp, meat and eggs, etc.
4. Drink more water than usual, no coffee or alcohol.
5. Do not stay in an overheated environment.
Why Would You Need a Blood Transfusion?
There are several situations you need to receive a blood transfusion clinically.
· You’ve had major surgery or a serious injury and you need to replace lost blood
· You have an illness like leukemia or kidney disease that causes anemia (not enough healthy red blood cells)
Blood transfusion can generally treat anemia. Blood transfusion can usually improve anemia, but it cannot completely cure it. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the cause of anemia,which can be confirmed by detecting ferritin ranges on blood tests,vitamin B12 and folate levels etc. Then carry out symptomatic treatment to achieve a better therapeutic effect.
· You’ve received cancer treatments like radiation or chemotherapy
· You have a blood disorder or severe liver problems
· You have severe infection.
· You have abnormal blood coagulation.
Who can't donate blood?
1. Patients suffering from respiratory system diseases, 
circulatory system diseases, digestive system diseases, tumors and other diseases.
2. The interval from the last blood donation is less than 6 months.
3. Being underweight or overweight.
4. Menstruating women, mothers who have given birth and breastfeeding for less than 1 year.
Your blood donation essentials
1. How much blood do you give when you donate?
470ml. It's about 8% of the average adult's blood volume. Within 24-48 hours of donating, your body will have fully restored your blood volume.
2. How long does it take to donate?
It only takes 5 to 10 minutes to fill a blood bag. But allow for an hour for the whole appointment, which includes meeting with a friendly staff member before your donation and having a complimentary snack and drink after.
3. How often can I give blood?
Men can give blood every 12 weeks whereas women have to wait 16 weeks to protect their iron levels.
As men can donate more often, men who donate regularly play a big role in providing the almost 5,000 donations needed every day. If you're keen to donate more often, you can give plasma every two weeks.
At the moment, two thirds of new donors are women and a third are men.
4. The amount of blood donation is generally 200 ml, and the maximum is no more than 400 ml, and the interval between blood donations is not less than 6 months; for platelet donation, the amount of blood donation is 1 to 2 therapeutic units each time, and the interval between blood donations is not less than 2 weeks.
If everyone gave a little love, the earth would be a better world.
Be a hero,Give Blood.
FAQ
Q: Do you have to be fasting to donate blood?
A: No. Different from the hospital biochemical test items. Donating blood on an empty stomach may lead to dizziness, fatigue, pale complexion, and even fainting. Before donating blood, you must eat and pay attention to lightness.
Q: Does donating blood lower immunity?
A: No. Blood donation is only a small reduction in the amount of renewable blood the body can restore, and it will soon recover. Moreover, it will enhance the hematopoietic function of organs and benefit the regeneration of human white blood cells.
Q: Can Gay Men Donate Blood?
A: We have some of the world’s most progressive rules about who can and can’t give blood. Internationally, some countries don’t allow men who have sex with men to give blood or have a 12-month delay.