Give Me Red

Blood transfusion saves lives. Sometimes, takes away too. Human blood has no substitute. When need arises, donating blood is the only way to save lives. Each drop of blood counts in the process.

Blood Basics

• An adult human has 4-6 liters of blood and a baby has a cup of blood.
• Blood consists of various cells floating in plasma.
• Blood fights against infection and helps heal wounds.
• The red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds oxygen. Red blood cells transport oxygen too, and remove carbon dioxide from, the body tissues.
• The white blood cells fight infection.
• The platelets help the blood to clot.
• The plasma contains salts and various kinds of proteins.

The Need

Dr. Sushila Kataria, Internal Consultant at Umkal Hospital explains, “Blood can be transfused in parts or in whole. Accidents, premature babies, major surgeries require whole blood transfusions and trauma victims, anemia patients need only RBC, and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, need a plasma infusion. The procedure of splitting blood components is called Cytapheresis.”

Precautions

Dr. Kataria elaborates on precautions

• Before a transfusion takes place donor blood type is checked several times, and it is cross-matched with the blood sample of the person receiving transfusion.
• Still, reactions do occur. Fevers, chills, and itching are simple forms of reaction. In instances of major reaction, patient will have trouble breathing, and donor red cells get destroyed, nullifying the effect of transfusion. Anaphylactic reaction– the most severe form of reaction, can happen too.

Who can donate blood?

• Any person in good health
• At least 17 years old
• Weigh at least 110 pounds
• Pass the physical and health history assessments

Dr. Kataria informs that people who have controlled hypertension and have no active infection can donate blood too.

People who have tested positive for Hepatitis B and C, HIV, Syphilis and Malaria cannot donate blood.

Donating blood is a noble deed. Besides giving us a moral high, it saves lives. Human body restores the fluid lost in 24 hours and RBCs take an eight weeks time to compensate the loss. Go ahead and donate blood.
Archana Darshan

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