World Blood Donor Day 2014: Give Blood for Those Who Give Life

The World Blood Donor Day, to be observed on June 14, 2014, highlights the importance of donating blood to save the lives of pregnant women.

The World Blood Donor Day is observed by the World Health Organization every year on the 14^th of June. The day has been selected as it is the birthdate of Karl Landsteiner, who has made an important contribution towards discovering blood groups.

The theme for this year’s event focusses on the need of donor blood by women during pregnancy and delivery. It states- Give blood for those who give life.

Blood Donation - Overview
Blood donation is a process of any consenting adult voluntarily agreeing to have his/her blood drawn for medical use. Know more about blood donation and how you can become a volunteer..

Blood is something that can be donated at regular intervals without affecting the donor. Blood that is donated is replaced by the body in a few days’ time. The donor can be up on his feet a few minutes after the donation, yet blood donation is something that can save the life of another individual, be it a patient with an accident, blood disorder like thalassemia or a surgical complication.

The lack of blood donors in some regions is often due to laziness or the lack of awareness about the miracles that a pint of blood can do. If individuals are made aware of what difference they can make to an unknown person with a simple blood donation, it is likely that many more individuals will come forward and donate blood.

The theme of this year’s World Blood Donor Day highlights the need for blood by pregnant women. Some pregnant women especially suffer from severe blood loss during delivery or post-delivery necessitating an immediate blood transfusion. If blood is not easily available, it could even lead to the death of the mother.

Quiz on Blood Donation
As there is no substitute for human blood, Blood donation is one of the noblest of human actions; a simple gesture to help a needy stranger. If you have any apprehensions or queries on the facts of blood donation, take our Blood Donation quiz; empower yourself with the necessary information, and save a life!

Thus, we all have a moral obligation towards these women. While it is important to donate blood, it is also important that the blood should not harm the recipient. Therefore, a person suffering from conditions like HIV and hepatitis B should refrain from donating blood. It is also important that the blood is collected with all sterile precautions to make the transfusion safe for both the patient as well as the donor.

If you do not suffer from any condition that prevents you from donating your blood, do consider going to the nearest blood donation center on the 14^th June and donating the life-saving fluid.

Blood Donation Due Date Calculator
Are you a blood donor? If yes use our online calculator to find out when you can donate blood again.

References:

1. http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2014/en/#story-02

World Blood Donor Day 2013 - 'Give the Gift of Life: Donate Blood'
This World Blood Donor Day, remember, that by spending ten minutes or less to donate blood, you can gift an entire lifetime to a patient in urgent need of that safe blood transfusion.

Source-Medindia