11/1/2014

Blood Donation

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Parul Chopra

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Why donate blood?
Bones & Joints

There is tremendous demand for blood in hospitals.

Many patients die because they are not able to cope
with the loss of blood. The blood donated is used to:

Breast Feeding
Cancer
Child Development

Replace blood lost during injury as in

Children

accidents.

Diabetes

Replace blood loss during major surgeries.

Help patients with blood disorders like

Drugs

haemophilia survive.

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Ear

Help burnt patients receive plasma that may

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be critical for their survival.

Eyes

Raise haemoglobin levels (through transfusions) in patients with chronic

ailments like kidney diseases, cancer and anaemia.
Who can donate blood?

Health Insurance
Heart

Latest Photos

Some basic health conditions have to be met by donors. A donor should:

Be above 18 years and below 60 years of age.

HIV/AIDS
Infection

Have a haemoglobin count that is not less than 12.5 g/dl

Injuries/FirstAid

Weigh not less than 45 kgs.

Liver

Have normal body temperature at the time of donation.

Men's Health

Have normal blood pressure at the time of donation.

Nutrition

Should be free of any disease at the time of donation.

The donor should not have taken any medicine in the last 48 hours.

Pregnancy

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The donor should not have contacted jaundice in the previous three years.

Rehabilitation Medicine
Sex

Who should not donate blood?

The following categories of people should avoid donating blood:
Pregnant or lactating women, or those who have recently had an abortion.

Skin
Surgery

Persons who are on steroids, hormonal supplements or certain specified

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medication.

Tobacco Control

Persons with multiple sexual partners or those who are addicted to drugs.
Persons who have had an attack of infection like jaundice, rubella, typhoid or

Travel and Health

malaria.

Tuberculosis

Persons who have undergone surgery in the previous six months.

Women's Health

Persons who have consumed alcohol in the 48 hours prior to donation.

Women should avoid donation during their menstruating period.

Featured Q & A
What is artificial pancreas?

Poll

Persons with any systemic disease like heart disease, kidney disease, liver

Q. Do you use your mobile to

look for health related
information?

problems, blood disorders or asthma should NOT donate blood.

How long does healing take after circumcision?

Persons suffering from infections transmitted through transfusions like HIV,

Is typhoid contagious?

Yes

No

Can't Say

Post comment | Previous poll

Hepatitis, Syphilis etc should not donate blood.

How long does the process of donation take?
Only 350 ml of blood is taken at the time of donation. An average person has 5-6 litres
of blood in the body. In terms of volume the loss is corrected in 24-48 hours by the

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11/1/2014

Blood Donation
body. The red cell count is corrected in about 56 days.
The actual bleeding time is about 5-6 minutes. There will be a medical check up before
this and you will be advised some rest (for 5-10 minutes) and given some refreshment
after donation. The whole process takes about 30 minutes.
How often can one donate blood?
The minimum time advised between two donations is 3 months. This gap helps blood
regain the normal haemoglobin count.
What are the precautions that need to be taken?
Ones health will not suffer because of blood donation. In fact, the bone marrow is
stimulated to produce new cells. However, if conditions are not hygienic, one may get
exposed to infection.
Please ensure that disposable needles are used for blood collection.

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How is blood grouped?

The blood is screened for the following diseases/infections before grouping:
HIV
Hepatitis B & C
Syphilis
Malaria
The blood is grouped and stored either as whole blood or as components like packed
red blood cells, plasma or platelets. This is then sent on demand to hospitals. Blood is
composed of cells suspended in a liquid. The liquid portion is the plasma, from which
therapeutic fractions and derivatives are made.
Suspended in the plasma are three types of cells:
Red cells: these carry oxygen
White cells: these fight infection
Platelets: these stop wounds bleeding
The most common type of grouping is the ABO grouping. Red blood cells have a
protein coat on their surface, which distinguishes them. According to this blood is
divided into four groups: A (A protein is present), B (B protein is present), AB (AB
protein is present) and O (no protein is present).
There are subtypes under this grouping (listed as A1, A2, A1B or A2B) some of which
are quite rare. Apart from this there is another protein, which plays an important part in
the grouping of blood. This is called the Rh factor. If this is present, the particular blood
type is called positive. If it is absent, it is called negative. Thus we have the following
broad categories:
A1 Negative
A1 Positive
A1B Negative
A1B Positive
A2 Negative
A2 Positive
A2B Negative
A2B Positive
B Negative
B Positive
O Negative
O Positive
Tips on Blood Donating
Please have a good meal at least 3 hours before donating blood.
Please accept the snacks offered after the donation. It is recommended to
have a good meal later.
Please avoid smoking on the day before donating. One can smoke 3 hours
after donation.
One is not eligible to donate blood if you have consumed alcohol 48 hours
before donation.
Misconception about Donating Blood
You will not feel drained or tired if you continue to drink fluids and have a
good meal.
You can resume your normal activities after donating blood, though you are
asked to refrain from exercise or heavy weight lifting for twelve hours after
donation.
Donating blood will not leave you low of blood; in fact you will still have
surplus blood after the donation.

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Blood Donation
While donating blood you will not feel any pain.
You will not faint or feel uncomfortable after donating blood. This is a common
misconception.
You will not get AIDS if you donate blood.
Patients are just like donors - most of them have common blood types.
Because your blood type is common, the demand for that type is greater than
for rare types. So, even if your blood type is common there is still a
requirement.
Monday, 04 April 2011
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