For many people, blood donation could be scary thing to do, but for others it is a life saving act. After one donation the scary part vanishes and all the myths around blood donation disappears. You are actually saving lives by donating blood and this donation part is going to take just 45 minutes or less.
It was when I was studying engineering 2nd or 3rd yr in Bharath Engg College, a volunteer blood donation camp was conducted by Hindu Mission Hospital, Tambaram. Many students were eagerly joining to donate blood. Though i haven't donated blood earlier, wanted to do this time and joined. In the hospital, while check up they had inquired about my blood and I mentioned O+ve which i was thinking as my blood group for years. After the blood donation, the doctor again asked my blood group and I replied O+ve. He then said that my blood group is O-ve and since it is a rare group of blood, he advised me to donate blood whenever there is a necessity. After that, again I donated blood only after my graduation, when i started registering my name in few blood donation related websites. In the last nine years i had donated blood for almost 10 times (only) in the following hospitals.
Hindu Mission Hospital, Tambaram - 1
Apollo Hospital, Mount Road - 1
Apollo Hospital, Greams Road - 1
Railway Hospital, Perambur - 1
Danvanthri Blood Bank, T.Nagar - 1
Vijaya Hospital, Vadapalani - 1
K G Hospital - 1
Update on Mar-2019:
Never updated this post for more than 8 years. Till 2015 I managed to donate blood for 12 times in my life. Didn't get right chance to continue this for over 3 years. Again during mid of 2018 got an opportunity to donate blood for 13th time after a gap of 3 years. Donated blood for the 14th time this month in ESI hospital, Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore.
About Blood Donation
There is a myth that donating blood will create giddiness and tiredness. Even few had asked me whether I feel like tired after donating blood. I had never felt such giddiness ever, in fact I feel more energetic after that, may be because of some satisfaction I'm getting for trying to save someone.
Friends, if you are interested to save someone's life by donating blood, please register your name in websites available for blood donation. Few such websites are
http://friendstosupport.org
http://indianblooddonors.com
Few facts regarding blood donation:
Basic Requirements
Be in generally good health and feeling well.
Be at least 17 years of age; upper age 60.
Weigh at least 110 pounds (45 kg).
Pulse: 80 to 100 beats/min and regular.
Temperature: Should not exceed 99.5 (37.5c).
Blood Pressure: acceptable range is 160/90 to 110/60.
Skin: the venipuncture site should be free of any lesion or scar of needle pricks indicative of addiction to narcotics or frequent Blood donation (as in the case of professional Blood donors).
Donation Frequency
Whole Blood donors may donate every 56 days.
Plasma donors may donate twice a week (max. every 48 hours.)
Platelet donors may donate a maximum of 24 times per year.
Other specialized donations are subject to other rules.
A single donation could save the life of three people. The blood can be given as whole blood or separated into three different components- red blood cells, plasma and platelets, which can help different types of patients.
“Doctor, can't we just buy the blood.” “I am scared to donate blood.” “I will fall sick if I donate.” These are common repartees encountered when individuals are faced with a situation when they are in fact in a position to save a life. How real are these fears?
Myth: Being a vegetarian, means that the blood does not have enough iron and cannot be donated.
Fact: Vegetarians can donate blood. The iron needed is taken from body stores and once a balanced diet is maintained is replaced after donation. This usually normally takes a month or so.
Myth: Giving blood hurts.
Fact: The pain experienced is no more than a needle prick. The slight soreness that maybe where the needle was is just a reminder of the good deed done.
Myth: HIV or other infections can be contracted from donating blood.
Fact: A clear procedure exists for taking blood from each donor. Sterility is maintained at all steps. A sterile, new needle is used for each donation and is then properly discarded. Use of sterile equipment and technique limits the chance of infection.
Myth: Giving blood is time consuming
Fact: The time taken for a single donation session is normally not more than an hour or so.
Myth: There is limited blood in the body and it is unhealthy to give some away.
Fact: Only about 470 ml of blood is taken during a donation session. There is enough blood in the body to donate it without experiencing any ill effects. The body makes new blood after donation.
Myth: Age is a deterrent to blood donation.
Fact: Anyone up to the age of 60 who is fit and healthy can give blood.
Myth: Heavy people are healthier and have more blood to give.
Fact: Being overweight makes people less healthy. Overweight people do not have more blood. Normally human will be having six liters of blood irrespective of their weight.
Myth: Health deteriorates after donating blood.
Fact: If you are healthy prior to donation, your recovery is complete in a day or two. It is advised to rest a while after donating. Drinking enough liquids replaces the lost fluid within a couple of hours. The body produces new cells faster after a donation. All the RBCs are replaced within 3-4 days and WBCs within 3 weeks.
Myth: You cannot take part in sports or other physical activities after donating blood.
Fact: Giving blood does not interfere with ability to perform physically. Advice to avoid heavy lifting or strenuous workouts for the rest of the day is given after the donation. You can get back on track the next day.
Myth: Taking medication means that one cannot be a blood donor.
Fact: Depending on the medication being taken, it may halt donation for a period, though in many cases it won't prevent a donation. The person in charge or the nursing staff should be informed before donating.
Myth: When there is a requirement, blood can be manufactured.
Fact: Blood is not something that can be manufactured. It can only come from healthy human beings.
Myth: Being of mixed race precludes blood from being helpful.
Fact: Race and caste have no bearing on eligibility for being a blood donor. It is the blood type and group that is of importance.
Myth: Blood donation can tell if one is HIV positive.
Fact: HIV antibodies can take months to develop after infection with the virus. Those recently infected may have a negative test result and yet be able to infect others. It is better not to donate blood if at risk of getting HIV or other infections.
About Blood Types
There are four blood types; “A”, “B”, “AB”, and “O”. These types are the names that identify the protein antigen or “coat” that surrounds the red blood cells. The antigen coat not only identifies the blood type, but also identifies the antibodies that are produced by the individual. An individual's blood types antigens determine the blood type antibodies that attack foreign blood.
Type A blood is so named because the individual with this type blood has the “A” antigen coat on his or her red blood cells. This means that this individual's body produces the antibody for the “B” antigen. What this means is that if a person that has type “B” blood attempts to donate blood to a type A person, the antibodies of that person’s blood will react violently. The individual reaction that of the type A receiver of this unacceptable type B blood donation is often deadly. This is because the type A antibodies attack the B coated red blood cells in a reaction that not only destroys the B cells, but also breaks down the individual circulatory system. The pattern of antibody-antigen for the other blood types is as follows:
Type B blood carries the “B” antigen and the A antibodies.
Type AB blood carries both A and B antigen coats, but no antibodies.
While Type O blood has no antigen coat, and both A and B antibodies.
This breakdown was often described as “blood poisoning” when the technique of blood transfusion was first used before it was fully understood. Though practiced in the 18th century with varying success due to the lack of understanding, blood donation transfusions were known to be a risky proposition. The discovery of the relationships of types, antigens, and antibodies made blood donation a science. The ability to donate or receive blood is dependent of the relationship of antibodies and antigens.
Type O blood has no antigen coat and can be given to all blood types. This is because it has no antigen to trigger an antibody response. Type O blood is known as the universal donor. At the same time because it has both A and B antibodies, individuals with Type O blood can only receive blood from other Type O donors.
Type A blood can be donated to individuals with Type A and Type AB blood. This is because Type A blood will not trigger an antibody reaction in either of these types. Type A can receive blood from Type A or Type O.
Type B blood can be donated to individuals with Type B and Type AB blood. This is because Type B blood will not trigger an antibody reaction in individuals these individuals. Type B individuals can receive blood form Type B and Type O.
Type AB blood can be donated to individuals with Type AB blood only. Due to the dual antigen coat of Type AB blood, it causes an antibody response in all other blood types. Type AB blood on the other hand is known as the “universal acceptor” because individuals with this blood type have no antibodies that react to the presence of either the A or B blood antigen coat.
In review; A person with Type A blood carries the “A” antigen and the B antibodies; Individuals with Type B blood carry the “B” antigen and the A antibodies. Type AB blood carries both A and B antigen coats, but no antibodies, therefore are known as “universal acceptors”. While individuals with Type O blood have no antigen coats, therefore are “universal donors”, and have both A and B antibodies making them only able to accept their own type.
In addition, a negative type blood can be donated to a positive type blood but a positive type blood cannot be donated to a negative type blood.
