Thalassemia & Sickle Cell Society

Blood Donation - FACTS

Any side effects ?
There are no side effects of Blood Donation. A small
percentage of first time donors may psychologically feel a
little dizzy but only for a few minutes. This is not a matter of
concern

How much ?
One can donate up to 450 ml of blood.
The body can replenish this volume within 24 hours.
Normally only 350 ml of blood is collected by the
Blood Bank

What happens to the donated blood ?

The blood is thoroughly tested in all possible respects
and given to the needy patients after cross matching.
The Blood is separated into components viz. Red Cells,
White Cells, Plasma & Platelets.
The blood components are made available to Hospitals
and Nursing Homes on need basis.
This is how each time you donate blood you save up to
4 lives.

Benefits to donor ?
It reduces the chances of ischemic heart diseases
(beginning of heart problems) as frequent donations
reduce the accumulated and unwanted iron load from
the body.
Each donors blood is checked for Blood Group, Malaria,
V.D.R.L, Hepatitis “B” & “C”, HIV I & II (AIDS)
Blood screen report is issued to all voluntary donors.
Blood Group Card is issued
In case of necessity Blood can be arranged free-of-cost
for the voluntary donor and his relatives.

How frequently can one donate blood ?

Males every 3 months
Females every 4 months

Who can Donate Blood ?

Be in generally good health and feeling well.
Be at least 18 years of age; upper age 60
Weigh at least 50 Kgs
Pulse: 80 to 100 beats/min and regular
Temperature: Should not exceed 99.5 (37.5c)
Blood Pressure: acceptable range is 110/60 to 140/90
Do not donate blood, if
You have ever tested positive for HIV,
You have ever injected yourself with drugs or other
substances not prescribed by a physician
You have hemophilia or another Blood clotting disorder
and received clotting factor concentrate
You have been held in a correctional facility (including
jails, prisons and/or detention centers) for more than
72 hours in the last 12 months,
Pregnant and anemic women should not donate blood
People suffering from contagious diseases should not
donate blood.
The donor should not have contacted jaundice in the
previous three years.

Care a donor should take after donating blood

Drink some liquid like tea, cold drink, juice, etc. to
replenish fluid and eat some snacks. All this will be
available for you at the blood donation site
Drink more liquids than usual in next 4 hours
Avoid consuming alcohol until you have eaten
something
Don’t smoke for next 30 minutes
Avoid climbing steps for next 30 minutes
If there is bleeding from the phlebotomy site, raise the
arm and apply pressure
If fainting or dizziness occurs, either lie down or sit with
the head between the knees
Resume all normal activities if no symptoms occur
Remove bandage next day

Y o u C a n’t W r a p i t …
B u t, i t’s t h e B e s t G i f t y o u c a n G i v e …
Give the Gift of Life…
Give Blood