Dear Friends
Some Facts about Blood
1. Blood flows everywhere through the human body.
2. We cannot live without it.
3. The heart pumps blood to all our body cells, supplying them with oxygen and food.
4. Blood also carries proteins and cell fragments called platelets that let blood clot where there has been an injury
Did you Know
1. 450ml of blood can save as many as three lives.
2. Every two seconds, someone in India needs blood.
3. One out of every three of us will need blood in our life time.
4. Even with all of today’s technology, there is no substitute for blood.
Someone has to give blood in order for someone to receive blood.
Some Facts about Donors
1. Hospitals predict that the need for blood will increase 5% each year.
2. Approximately only 4% of the eligible population in India donates blood.
3. 75% of donors donate only ONCE per year.
4. If they donated just two times per year there would never be any shortages.
5. A person has 5 - 6 litres of blood in their body.
6. A person can donate blood every 90 days (3 months).
Body recovers the Blood very quickly:
Blood plasma volume– within 24 - 48 hours
Red Blood Cells – in about 3 weeks
Platelets & White Blood Cells – within minutes
Predonation Information
Blood is taken ONLY from Voluntary Donors
Using sterile, disposable blood bags & instruments
Donated Blood is tested and separated into components benefiting 3-4 patients
It is safe to donate every 3 months
It is quick and safe.
It doesn’t hurt.
It saves 3 to 4 lives.
Age of Donor : 18 - 60 years
Weight of Donor : > 45 kgs
Hemoglobin level: >13 gms/dl for men and 12.5 gms/dl for women in good health
Post Donation Advice
Drink lots of fluids for next 24 hours
Avoid smoking for one hour & alcohol till after a meal
Don’t use elevator to go up immediately after donation as it
will make blood rush to your feet & make you dizzy!
Avoid highly strenuous exercises & games for a day.
If you feel dizzy, lie down & put your feet up. You will be alright in 10-20 mins.
Remove band-aid after 4 hours. If it bleeds, apply pressure & reapply band-aid. If bruised and painful, apply cold-pack 4 to 5 times for 5 mins each. The bruise is due to blood seeping into the surrounding tissue. It will take a few days to get reabsorbed.
What we have to do?????
Make Blood Donation a HABIT
Donate regularly – every 3 months to commemorate special days like birthdays, anniversaries ….
Motivate others to donate
Refer your friends and relatives
Benefits of Blood Donation to Donor
Health benefits:
Regular donation (2-3 times a year….)
Lowers cholesterol
Lowers lipid levels
Decreases incidence of heart attacks, strokes
Donor is also eligible to receive one FREE unit of blood if needed for
Self, Spouse/ Child/ Parents, and Even friends