World Blood Donor Day 2023: Here Is Everything You Need To Know About Saving Lives

Every year, we celebrate blood donor day on June 14. The aim is to spread awareness about the need to donate blood and save lives. The World Health Assembly officially announced this day in 2005.

It is a crucial need of the hour for people to donate blood so that doctors and hospitals do not have to struggle with transfusion when they are trying to save lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) wrote in one of its reports, “Lack of access to safe blood and blood products - especially in low and middle-income countries, impacts all patients, including those who require regular transfusion.”

The slogan for the 2023 celebration of World Blood Donor Day is “Give Blood, give Plasma, share life, share often.” It emphasises the role of every person who voluntarily donates blood or plasma to patients in need and saves their lives.

Health Benefits Of Donating Blood

When you donate blood, it helps to maintain the level of iron in your blood. People who donate blood frequently can help their bodies prevent the excessive build-up of iron.

Another advantage of donating blood is it helps to keep blood pressure in check. Thus, it reduces the risks of heart strokes and attacks. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology stated that donating blood at least once a year can reduce the risks of heart disease by 88%.

The biggest advantage of donating blood is that a single pint can save at least three lives. According to a study published in the Cleveland Clinic, a person has 10-12 pints of blood in their body. Your body can regenerate the donated amount of blood within 4-6 weeks.

What To Do Before And After Blood Donation

Red Cross Blood is an American organisation that conducts donation drives in the country. It listed what a donor must do before and after donating blood.

Before donation

• Make an appointment with the hospital when you will donate blood
• Get plenty rest
• Hydrate yourself

After Donation

• Have a snack to prevent dizziness
• Drink four glasses of water
• Avoid alcoholic beverages for a day at least

Who Can Donate Blood?

According to the National Blood Transfusion Council,

• The donor must belong to the age group of 18-65
• People must weigh more than 45 kg
• Temperature and pulse rate must be normal
• The high and lower readings of the blood pressure must be normal
• The donor must not be pregnant or have delivered a child at least a year ago and is not breastfeeding
• Haemoglobin must not be less than 12.5 gms
• The donor must not be administering drugs
• Should not have taken certain vaccines in the last 15 days
• Must not be terminally ill, have communicable infections, or any other disease
• Should not be a heart patient
• Must not be diabetic
• Should not be on medication that possess a risk for the donor or the recipient

Have you donated blood? If not, book your appointment this weekend with any nearby hospital or blood bank and save multiple lives.