The World Blood Donor Day that was on 14 June 2012 and was marked with events around the world to raise awareness for the need of safe blood and blood products. In many countries throughout the world and Africa the supply of safe, quality blood are at dangerously low levels.
“Today,
in 62 countries, national blood supplies are based on 100% (or more than 99.9%)
voluntary unpaid blood donation. However, 40 countries still depend on family
donors and even paid donors and collect less than 25% of their blood supplies
from voluntary unpaid blood donors” according to the World Health Organization
(WHO).
The
goal of the World Health Organization is for all countries to be able to obtain
sufficient blood supplies entirely through voluntary unpaid donors by
2020.
The
transfusion of blood helps save and prolong the lives of millions of people
every year. It can help improve
longevity and quality of life for patients suffering from life-threatening
health conditions and improves the outcomes of emergency medical
procedures.
Donate Blood, Save a Life
Many
of us can become a hero by giving blood.
Giving blood gives hope, encouragement and support to not only the
individual that is receiving the blood but also their friends and family. Imagine how your gift of life can literally
impact generations.
Leave
a legacy and donate blood voluntarily and regularly.
You CANNOT get HIV/AIDS
from Donating Blood
Only
sterile, disposable equipment is used throughout the donation process, which makes
it virtually impossible to contract a disease from donating blood.
Individuals
who have HIV or AIDS should not donate blood.
Donors should be in good physical health and not have an active cold,
fever, sore throat or flu-like symptoms on the day of donation. Those that are on antibiotics for infection
should wait a minimum of 24 hours after the condition has finished its
course. Special considerations for
individuals who have diabetes, heart disease and surgery patients may be
applicable.
Reasons for Donating Blood
•Donating
blood is a safe and a healthy thing to do.
Commonly you will also receive a blood pressure check, heart rate check,
body temperature and iron levels. Not
only do you help someone in need but you also receive vital health statistics
about yourself.
•For
men, there is also a life-saving benefit to donating blood. Men are at higher
risk for "hemochromatosis or iron overload" where too much iron
builds up in the blood. Research shows if men give blood 3 times a year, they
can reduce their risk of a heart attack by as much as 50%!
•One
blood donation can be broken down into several components thus impacting up to
three lives. Imagine if everyone donated
and the amount of lives impacted were times by three – a healthier planet.
•The
growing and aging world population has caused blood usage to outpace donor
collections. Without deliberate action
we or our loved ones may not receive critical blood transfusions that will save
or extend their lives.
•Disasters
such as car accidents, fires, and other trauma cases happen every day and these
patients need blood. Very rarely do
these victims use only one pint.
•It is estimated that over
60% of the population will need blood at some time in their lives, yet less
than 5% of the population donates. These
numbers are even more drastically separated in areas that have limited or poor
access to healthcare services.
•There
is no substitute for human blood and statistically someone needs blood every
few seconds of every day.
Tips for a Successful Blood
Donation
By
following these recommendations before, during and after you will ensure a
safe, successful and stress-free donation.
Donation is simple and commonly takes less than one hour.
Before Donation
Make sure you have healthy iron levels in your body. Iron rich foods such as spinach, red meat, fish, poultry, beans and fortified foods can naturally raise levels.
Drink
extra fluids. Dehydration is a common
problem throughout the world and will diminish your blood volume. You will improve your giving ability and
reduce unwanted side effects by simply drinking more water.
Get
a good night’s sleep. Giving blood is
commonly thought of as an unpleasant experience and creates unneeded
stress. One may have greater anxiety if
they are not fully rested.
Eat
a healthy meal prior to a donation.
Avoid eating fatty, processed foods because those fats will be in your
donated blood. The testing for
infections in the blood can be altered by the amount of fat in your blood
stream for several hours after consumption.
If
you are a platelet donor – remember to not use aspirin for at least two days
prior to donation. Aspirin is a blood
thinner and will affect your clotting ability.
Consult with your doctor for additional guidelines.
During Donation
Wear
clothes that you are comfortable in.
Tight clothing will impact your ability to relax and give blood. Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised
above the elbow level for donation.
Relax,
talk with others, read or do what you know will relax you. Giving blood is a lot easier than most
think. It is simple, fast and
comfortable.
Enjoy
snacks and a drink immediately after donating.
This will help your body respond, relax and rehydrate for fluids that
are lost.
After Donation
Drink
plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours.
If you feel light headed, it is most likely caused by dehydration and
drinking fluids will help you. Light
headedness or other side effects are rare.
Avoid
strenuous or heavy lifting for several hours post donation. This will help your body adjust and heal
fully from losing any blood. This is
just a consideration as most people feel no physical difference after donating
blood.
Enjoy
the satisfaction and good feeling that you not only impacted a patient that
needed blood but also their children, family and loved ones. It is a precious feeling that gives hope and
a future to many.
For
further information find a blood bank that is close and convenient to you. They will be able to give you additional
guidelines and reassurance that your first blood donation experience will be a
stress-free, comfortable and life-changing event in your life. Imagine the possibility of a brighter
tomorrow. Give today.
Dr. Cory Couillard is an international healthcare speaker and columnist for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and publications throughout the world. He works in collaboration with the World Health Organization's goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
Email: drcorycouillard@gmail.com
Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard
Twitter: DrCoryCouillard
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