World Blood Donor Day: Blood Donation Rules You Should Know

Blood donation is a voluntary activity where a person agrees to donate blood to a patient suffering from blood-related disorders. The most common blood disorders requiring blood donations are thalassemia, iron deficiency anaemia, bleeding disorders, sickle cell disease, major accidents, surgeries, etc. Blood donation can save the lives of so many people who are in dire need of blood. However, not every patient in urgent need of donation gets access to blood. This is because they are unaware of the blood donation rules. This World Blood Donor Day, we’re sharing with you the essential set of rules that one must remember when planning to donate blood. 

Why Should One Consider Donating Blood?

It is true that people are reluctant to donate blood due to myths and assumptions surrounding it. Many people do not know that donating blood not only saves lives but ensures various benefits to the donor. Some of them have been mentioned below:

1. It regulates blood flow and makes it better and easier to flow. 

2. It lowers the risk of heart-related diseases.

3. It stimulates the formation of new blood cells and lowers the risk of cancer.

4. It aids in managing body weight. 

5. It improves the health of the liver.

6. It decreases health risks related to heavy iron accumulation in the body.

7. Furthermore, donating blood has a proven positive effect on the donor’s physical and mental health.

As per the blood donation rules, if one is willing to donate blood, he/she should first get registered. Registering at a blood bank will require a medical check-up to see whether the potential donor is eligible to donate or not. Once registered, a person can donate blood at an authorised blood bank, camps for blood donation, or a bloodmobile. Blood transfusion is done within 15-20 minutes. But the pre-and post-blood donation activities, including medical check-ups, can take up to 30-45 minutes. 

Who is Eligible to Donate Blood?

Any healthy adult is eligible to donate a unit of blood, which is 350 mL. A healthy adult man can donate blood every three months, while a healthy adult woman can donate every four months. This is because men have more haemoglobin than women. However, there are important considerations that one has to keep in mind before going for blood donation. According to the blood donation rules in India, the following persons are eligible to donate blood:

1. Age: Donors between the age group of 18 and 65 years. 

2. Weight: A person with a bodyweight of at least 45 kg. 

3. Heart Rate: A person whose heart rate or pulse rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

4. Blood Pressure: A person whose blood pressure is within the normal cap, that is, less than 120/80 mm Hg. 

5. Body Temperature: An individual with a normal body temperature, around 98.6 degrees F.

6. Haemoglobin: It should be at least 12.5 g.

7. As per the blood donation rules in India for females, if a woman has delivered, the delivery should be at least a year ago. And the woman should not be lactating.

Who is Ineligible to Donate Blood?

There are certain conditions that will disqualify a person from donating blood. These blood donation rules are extremely important and must be adhered to diligently. A person is ineligible to donate blood if:

1. They are suffering from some infection-related health issues, including cold, viral fever, stomach disorder, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis, epilepsy, or any other infections. 

2. If a woman is pregnant or gave birth within the last year or if she is nursing as per blood donation rules for females.

3. They have diabetes and need insulin to treat it. If the person has diabetes and is on oral medicines or on a controlled diet, they can donate blood. 

4. According to the blood donation rules, they had a substance administered intravenously.

5. They had dental operations performed a day before the donation, such as cavity filling, teeth cleaning, or other restoration. 

6. They had tooth-related surgeries like root canal operation and gum autograft in the last three days prior to donating blood.

7. They have a high-risk profile, with health disorders such as genital ulcers, drug addiction, multiple sexual partners, etc. 

8. They got tattoos or acupuncture treatment in the last year or underwent tattoo removal surgery in the past six months.

9. They suffer from heart disease, sickle cell anaemia, cancer, thalassemia, etc. 

10. They had malaria treatment in the past three months or lived in malaria-endemic regions for the past three years.

11. They received any vaccination in the last 15 days for cholera, TB, tetanus, etc. 

Precautions Before Blood Donation

One should know the dos and don’ts while planning to donate blood. The most important precautions before blood donation that one needs to be mindful of are:

1. It is important to check the licence of the blood bank. One should donate blood only in the presence of a certified professional. 

2. One should have a light meal before donating blood to avoid weakness. 

3. Hydration is a must to avoid weakness after donating blood.

4. The donor should not consume alcohol and/or smoke the day before donating blood.

5. One should ensure that the paramedics use new disposable needles for each donor.

6. As per the blood donation rules, the donor must carry at least two types of personal identification documents. 

7. If the donor is consuming any prescribed drugs, he/she should inform the doctor before donating blood.

Precautions After Blood Donation

Precautions before and after donating blood are crucial and must be taken seriously. Precautions that one needs to keep in mind after donating blood are as follows: 

1. Donors must relax for at least 5 minutes right after donating blood. They should not straightaway engage in physical activities. The donor must avoid heavy physical activities for at least the next 5 hours.
2. They should eat something that is high in glucose after donating blood to boost their energy levels, preventing weakness and dizziness. 
3. They must increase their fluid consumption over the next two days as it may require 24 to 48 hours to retrieve the fluids in the body after donating blood. Here, fluid does not mean carbonated or aerated drinks.
4. They should avoid standing for lengthy periods of time and avoid using public transportation.
5. They should not smoke and/or consume alcohol for the next 24 hours after donating blood.
6. They should consume well-balanced meals over the following 24 hours to recharge their bodies.

Conclusion 

Donating blood is not only a moral act but also has significant health benefits. Donors are not only saving the lives of others but are also boosting their own health. This World Blood Donor Day, make sure you spread awareness regarding the blood donation guidelines and the health benefits one can get out of this activity. Adults should check their eligibility as per the blood donation rules and donate blood to contribute to a healthier world.