Blood transfusions are needed for complications during pregnancy and childbirth, severe anemia, trauma, medical procedures, and certain conditions like thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Regular blood donations are crucial to ensure a safe blood supply is available whenever needed, as blood can only be stored for a limited time. Blood donation is a precious gift that can save lives, with each donation potentially helping three people. While blood cannot be manufactured, regular donations from healthy individuals between 18-55 years of age are important for meeting the daily need.

1. Blood Donation

2. Reasons for blood transfusions
Safe blood saves lives and improves health. Blood
transfusion is needed for:
Women with complications of pregnancy, such as ectopic
pregnancies and haemorrhage before, during or after
childbirth.
Children with severe anaemia often resulting from malaria
or malnutrition.

3. Cont…
People with severe trauma following man-made
and natural disasters; and many complex medical
and surgical procedures and cancer patients.

4. Cont…
It is also needed for regular transfusions for people
with conditions such as thalassaemia and sickle
cell disease and is used to make products such as
clotting factors for people with haemophilia.

5. Cont…
There is a constant need for regular blood supply
because blood can be stored for only a limited time
before use. Regular blood donations by a sufficient
number of healthy people are needed to ensure that
safe blood will be available whenever and
wherever it is needed.

6. Cont…
Blood is the most precious gift that anyone can give to
another person the gift of life. A decision to donate
your blood can save a life, or even several if your blood
is separated into its components red cells, platelets
and plasma which can be used individually for
patients with specific conditions.
(Saha, & Chandra, 2016).

7. Important Aspects
1. 400 blood donations are needed every day.
2. Every hour 15 units of blood are needed.
3. Blood donation only takes one hour of your life.
4. Blood donation does not hurt as a local anesthetics is applied.
5. The need of blood never takes a break.
6. Each blood donation saves 3 lives.

8. Cont…
7. Blood cannot be manufactured and there is no substitute
of human blood.
8. Blood donation is ethical and legal in such a way that
its curing people with chronic diseases and
complications. Moreover, giving lives to people e.g.,
accidents and traumas.
(WHO, 2017).

9. Who can donate blood:
Donors should be between 18-55 years of age.
With weight 50kg or above
Pulse rate, body temperature and blood pressure
should be in normal range.
Both men and women can donate blood.

10. Amount of blood to be taken
Our body has a reserve of 5.5 litre blood out of this
amount 350-450 ml of blood can be taken
depending upon the weight of donor.
Majority of the healthy donors can tolerate
withdrawal of one unit of blood.

11. Cont…
The withdrawn blood volume is restored in 24
hours but the hemoglobin and cell components are
restored in 2 months
(Heddle, et.al, 2016).

12. Comparison of myths and facts
Myths Facts
Giving blood is time consuming The time taken for a single donation
session is normally not more than an
hour and so on.
Blood donation leads to weakness Blood donation never leads to weakness
moreover, it brings new energy.
Giving blood hurts Pain experienced is not more than a
needle prick.The slight soreness at
sight of needle reminds the good deed
that have done.

13. Instruction for donor before donation
Take light refreshment/food before 2 hours of
blood donation.
Women should avoid blood donation during the
menstrual bleeding.
If a donor consume alcohol should avoid to donate
blood for next 24 hours.

14. Cont…
If donor experience a recent attack of typhoid, malaria,
rubella or jaundice should not donate blood.
If donor had major surgery should avoid blood donation
for 6 months.
Pregnant or lactating women should avoid blood
donation.

15. Instruction for donor after donation
Drink plenty of liquids for the whole day.
Eat well and do not remain hungry.
Do not smoke for half an hour.
Avoid driving for 1-2 hour.
Avoid heavy exercises on that day.

16. Cont…
Do not participate in sports or games on that day.
If there is bleeding at sight of withdrawing blood
gently apply pressure and raise the arm level.
(Shrivastava, Shrivastava, & Ramasamy, 2016).

17. References
Heddle, N. M., Arnold, D. M., Acker, J. P., Liu, Y.,
Barty, R. L., Eikelboom, J. W., ... & Cook, R. J.
(2016). Red blood cell processing methods and in-
hospital mortality: a transfusion registry cohort
study. The Lancet Haematology, 3(5), e246-e254.

18. Cont…
Saha, S., & Chandra, B. (2016). A cross-sectional
blood study in India: from donation activities of
donors to blood bank services. Current
Science, 110(9), 1789.

19. Cont…
Shrivastava, S. R., Shrivastava, P. S., & Ramasamy,
J. (2016). Thank you for saving my life: Blood
donation matters. Journal of research in medical
sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of
Medical Sciences, 21.

20. Cont…
Nepal, B. (2016, June). Knowledge, Attitude and
Practice about voluntary blood donation among
young student population of Karachi.
In HAEMATOLOGICA (Vol. 101, pp. 647-647). VIA
GIUSEPPE BELLI 4, 27100 PAVIA, ITALY:
FERRATA STORTI FOUNDATION.

21. Cont…
Zahiri, B., Torabi, S. A., Mousazadeh, M., &
Mansouri, S. A. (2015). Blood collection
management: Methodology and application. Applied
Mathematical Modelling, 39(23-24), 7680-7696.