World Blood Donor Day is among the most important international days celebrated worldwide on the 14th of June every year to raise awareness about the life-saving procedure. For a normal person, blood might not be anything more than the color red. But if we look at it, access to blood can be a serious matter of life or death for a person. The noble deed of blood donation can save many lives. Hence, it is a crucial practice that organisations spread awareness about worldwide and we are always motivated to move forward and become donors.
World Blood Donor Day: History
World Blood Donor Day was first organised in 2005. It was a joint initiative of the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross, and Red Crescent Societies. It is one of the 11 official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organisation.
Significance of World Blood Donor Day
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian biologist, physician, and immunologist born on 14 June 1868. Karl Landsteiner was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930 for the discovery of the ABO blood group. This discovery helped doctors to conduct a blood transfusion without putting a patient’s life at risk.
Check our Visual Story on World Blood Donor Day
World Blood Donor Day 2022: 12 Reasons Why You Should Donate Blood
Blood Donor Day: Theme
The Theme of Blood Donor Day 2022 is ‘Join the effort and save lives.” The theme will put some light on the roles that voluntary blood donation plays in saving lives across the globe.
Benefits of Blood Donation
- Crucial during disasters or emergencies
- Revitalises the health of the donor
- Helps the functioning of blood banks easier
- Stabilises blood collection
- Helps women who have serious complications during pregnancy or childbirth
- Is required for regular blood transfusions for disease patients
Who Can Donate Blood?
These are the points that make you eligible for donating blood:
- Any donor, who is healthy, fit, and not suffering from any transferable disease can donate blood
- Donors must be above 18 years of age and should weigh a minimum of 50 kg
- The Donor’s Haemoglobin level must be 12.5 minimum
- They should have a minimum pulse rate that is required
- Should have normal blood pressure levels
- Body temperature should be normal
These are the points that make you non-eligible for donating blood:
- Patients with cardiac arrest, hypertension, kidney disease, or epilepsy
- Consumption of alcohol within the last 24 hours
- Being HIV positive
- Having a cold, flu, sore throat, or any other infection
- Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers cannot donate blood
What after Donating Blood?
- A person who donates blood may have some temporary side effects which will eventually go away within a few hours. So try to sit and relax for some time after donating blood
- In case you have a bit of bleeding from the spot where you donated, raise your arm and use an ice pack on it
- If you are feeling lightheaded, lie down for a few minutes until you feel better
- Keep yourself hydrated with more and more fluids for 24-48 hours after you donate blood
- Don’t work out for 24 hours after donating blood
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