Donating safe blood
There is no artificial substitute for blood. Blood donation is the only way to collect this life-saving fluid. However, in many parts of the world, there is not sufficient donated blood to treat everyone who needs it. Worldwide, approximately 112.5 million units of blood are donated each year but this is not enough to meet the many needs for blood1. For every 1,000 people, 32 donations are given in high-income countries, 15 in upper middle-income countries, 7.6 in lower middle-income countries and only 4.6 in low- income countries. These numbers mean that if you are living in a low- or middle- income country, your community needs more blood donors to address the need for blood.
What is blood?
Blood is a powerful liquid. Every drop of blood is made up of three components, each of which has a critical role. These three components keep the nutrients and oxygen flowing, help you to stop bleeding too much if you get a cut and protect you from bacteria and viruses that may want to hurt you.
The average human adult has eight to ten pints or 3.7 to 4.7 liters of blood in their whole body at one time. A newborn baby has about one cup of blood or 240 milliliters of blood in his or her little body. If more than 15 per cent of the blood is lost (more than half a pint or 0.6 liters in an adult or 36 milliliters in a newborn), whether from bleeding externally or internally, bodies have to work harder to keep the cells fed and oxygenated. People can die from blood loss very quickly as a result of any trauma like an accident, emergency surgery, hemorrhage after childbirth or a diagnosis of leukemia or dengue (diseases that damage the blood’s ability to work properly). Having enough blood is critical in keeping a person alive. It is possible, however, to replace blood loss with the blood of another person. Donated blood can and does save lives.
The history of blood transfusion and blood donation
It was not until 1900 that an Austrian scientist, Karl Landsteiner, found that not all blood is exactly the same, even among humans. He found that you are born with a specific blood type that always stays the same throughout your life. The four main blood types are: A, B, AB and O.
Scientists learnt that when a person with one blood type receives a blood donation from a person with a different blood type, their body may think it is something harmful and will attack the donated blood, causing even more harm. Some blood types can be given to people with different blood types while others might be able to receive only from certain other types. Knowing these classifications made it safer for people to receive blood from people of the same or certain other blood groups.
Later scientists discovered even more about blood types. They found that Rhesus (RH), a protein, was either present in the blood or it was not. The four blood groups were then classified as Rh-positive or Rh-negative, shown as A+ or A-, for example. So there are eight blood groups in total.
With this knowledge of the blood groups, the RH factor and the components in blood and the function of each, a doctor in Chicago in 1937 started the first blood donation center. Since that time, the issue of ensuring that blood is safe for transfusion has become more and more of a challenge. Today it is right at the forefront of the practice of blood transfusion therapy.
Blood centers and hospitals are fully aware of this guidance, ensuring that when you donate blood, it goes to a person whose blood type will accept your blood type. There is no danger to the donor at all, as your blood is collected and processed, with no-one else’s blood coming into contact with you.
You do not even have to know what your blood type is in advance, as it will be tested and typed when you go to donate.
When you decided to give the blood, you must consider the following criteria.
- Must be between (18) and (55) years of age.
- For men, body weight must be above 130 pounds.
- For women, body weight must be above 130 pounds.
- Must be a good sleeper.
- Must be a non-drinker.
- Must be free of recent illness.
- In the past 6 months, a blood donor was no practice of tattooing, injection pierced ears, and acupuncturing.
- Must be free of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menstruation recently.
- If you already have met with the above information, you can donate blood once every (4) months.
If you donate blood,
For patients who needed surgery and blood transfusions, Red Cross volunteers are conducting voluntary blood donations and supporting the need for blood by connecting and finding blood donors.
If you want to donate blood – National Blood Bank, Yangon General Hospital, No. (95) General Aung San Road, Latha Township, Yangon | phone number – 01 372753 | you can visit and donate.
You can also donate via the link below with online booking system.
https://www.donatebloodmyanmar.org/booking
You can register for emergency blood donation by clicking on the link below.
https://www.donatebloodmyanmar.org/reg
Let’s share our love and be proud as blood donors by donating blood voluntarily at nearby blood banks and hospitals…..