What is blood?

One can almost say that blood is that magic potion which gives life to another person.
Though we have made tremendous discoveries and inventions in Science we are not yet able to make the magic potion called Blood.
Human blood has no substitute. Requirement of safe blood is increasing and regular voluntary blood donations
are vital for blood transfusion services.

Why should we donate blood?

There is tremendous demand for blood in hospitals. Many patients die because they are not able to cope with the loss of blood.
Blood you donate is used to:
Replace blood lost during injury as in accidents.
Replace blood loss during major surgeries
Help patients with blood disorders like haemophilia, Von Willebrand’s disease survive.
Help burns patients receive plasma, that may be critical for their survival.
Raise haemoglobin levels ( through transfusions) in patients with chronic ailments like kidney diseases,cancer and anaemia.
Blood donation hardly makes a difference in terms of health to the donor, but it can help save the life of a patient.

Who can donate blood?

Eligibility criteria for blood donation
Donor should be between 18-55 years of age with a weight of 50 kg or above with pulse rate,body temperature and blood pressure should be normal.
Both men and women can donate.There are only few conditions in which donors are permanently excluded.
The donor with history of epilepsy, psychotic disorders, abnormal bleeding tendencies,severe asthma, cardiovascular disorders, malignancy are permanently unfit for blood donation.
Donors suffering from disease like hepatitis, malaria, measles, mumps, and syphilis may donate blood after full recovery with 3-6 months gap.
Also people who have undergone surgery, blood transfusion may afely donate blood after 6-12 mths for woman donors
who are pregnant or lactating blood is not taken as their iron reserves are already on the lower side.

Who should not donate blood?

The following categories of people should avoid giving blood:
Pregnant or lactating women, or those who have recently had an abortion.
Persons who are on steroids, hormonal supplements or certain specified medication
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 malaria.
Persons who have undergone surgery in the previous six months.
Persons who have consumed alcohol in the 24 hours prior to donation
Women should avoid donation during their menstruating period.
Those who have undergone various vaccinations should avoid donation for the corresponding period specified below:

Vaccine            period

Hepatitis B                 6 months
Live vaccines           2 weeks
Killed vaccines        48 Hours
Rabies                      1 year

Persons with any systemic disease like heart disease, kidney disease, liver problems, blood disorders or asthma should NOT donate blood.
Persons suffering from infections transmitted through transfusions like HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis etc should Not donate blood.