National Voluntary Blood Donation Day- 1st of October

Voluntary Blood Donation – A Humane Act

 

Nothing is comparable to the preciousness of human blood. In spite of the rapid and remarkable conquests of medical science today, there is no factory that manufactures blood. It is only in human beings that human blood is made and circulated. For those who require blood for saving their lives, sharing from other fellows is the only means. Hence, donation – rather voluntary donation is the only way of accumulating blood at safe storage to meet emergency requirements for saving lives. In times of accidental injuries that shed huge amounts of blood and also in various types of surgical operations for medical treatments, we require blood for transfusion. Unavailability of blood may cost lives. Hence, importance of blood donation is tremendous. This is the greatest gift one can do for the mankind. Voluntary Blood Donors are saviors of mankind. If someone really loves oneself and other fellow beings, the only way to express it is to donate blood voluntarily.

The role of blood in a living creature is unique. The different components of blood have different activities to perform. Red Blood Cells (RBC) transports oxygen throughout the body, White Blood Cells (WBC) constitutes body's defense mechanism, Platelets helps in stopping bleeding and Plasma transports proteins including anti-bodies. Blood also evacuates wastes products from all organs of the body. There are four main blood groups i.e. O, A, B and AB. Group O is the most common and therefore the most in demand.

The average amount of blood present in an adult is 4-5 liters or about 8% of the body weight. Life cycles of the different components are short. The RBC lives about 120 days while white cells last about 3-9 days. New blood cells are constantly generated in the body. A person can donate blood 168 times during his 18 to 60 years. The quantity of blood present in 1kg of body weight is 76ml for males and 66 ml for females. Out of this 8 ml per kg body weight is donatable. Males can donate for every three months while females for every four months. All donated blood is recuperated within 21 days. At one time only 350 ml will be taken from a donor in not more than 20 minutes time including time for rest and refreshment. Blood donation is harmless and safe in the body. Rather, it is a social responsibility. The donor is donating for it as it will be used in saving lives of his fellow beings. He himself may use the same in his own need. So today's donor may be tomorrow's recipient.

Fear of needles, fear of pain, fear of sight of blood, fear of future weakness, fear of possible ill effects, objection from elders, ignorance and illiteracy etc. are all reasons for many people who are hesitant in donating blood. All these myths and misconceptions are to be removed in order that adequate amount of blood is made available at blood banks for saving the patients.

 The significance of observance of a day like the National Voluntary Blood Donation day on 1st October every year is to mobilize voluntary blood donors by motivating the potential donors to motivate for the cause of the society. Egoism in individuals is replaced with altruism. The former represents the motive behind those who seek their own ends and the later connotes individuals who always seek social ends.

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Dr Marwah