Blood Donation in 1901, Dr.

Blood Donation

In 1901, Dr. Karl Landsteiner discovered the ABO group system, and this land marked the process of blood donation. Transfusion Medicine has then transformed and saved many lives. Starting the 1970s many volunteers donated their blood. But this also led to another new discovery. The risk factors donors have brought about by liver disease helped the medical world to detect Hepatitis B transmitted through blood transfusion. Further more, succeeding discoveries of other transmittable diseases like Malaria, AIDS, Syphilis and Hepatitis C made blood transfusion safer than ever.

First and foremost, we define what blood is. We can say that blood is the life saver, that substance made of heme and globin that runs through our vessels, making the human being "tick." Without blood there is no life. And who can donate blood? How can you say that you are eligible to be just that kind of life-saver? There is a list of criteria that a person must satisfy in order to be a qualified blood donor. First and foremost, whether male or female, the donor should be within ages 18 to 55. A too young or too old patient may not be able to endure the process. He or she must also weigh at least 50 kg. The donor should have a pulse rate, blood pressure and body temperature which are all within normal limits. Donors should also be tested for transmittable diseases like Hepatitis, Malaria, Mumps, Measles, and Syphilis. Individual who had such diseases may still donate blood but only after 3-6 months after full recovery. There are some individuals who are unqualified to donate blood. Such individuals are those who have a history of psychotic disorder, epilepsy, abnormal bleeding tendencies, cardiovascular disorders, severe asthma, or malignancies. This is not only because of the threat of blood donation to the recipient but to the threat it brings about to the donor. For those who currently underwent surgery, they may be able to donate blood after 6-12 months, but lactating mothers are also not eligible for blood donation because of low iron content of their blood.

But how much blood can one give? Once you've identified yourself as fitting to be a blood donor it is also important for you to know your own capacity for donating. The human body can give up to 350 to 450 mL from 5.5 liters blood in the circulation. But this may also depend on the donor's weight. If you are a healthy adult you can very well tolerate donating blood. Also, you should not fear loosing blood because our body replenishes our blood within 24 hours and the blood components are restored in approximately 2 months. Therefore we could save a life every 3 months, roughly speaking, without alarm.

If you fear catching a transmittable disease yourself, you should know that respected centers and institutions use and undergo sterile and safe procedures. Also, you can be secured that the blood you donated will not go to waste because the blood you donated is stored in sterile, pyrogen free containers. These containers have anticoagulants like CPDA or CPDA with SAGM that will prevent the blood clotting and also gives nutrition to the cells. Donated blood is then stored properly, and depending on what kind of blood product: fresh whole blood, fresh frozen plasma, platelets or others, they are. Therefore, for sure, a blood donated is equivalent to a life restored.

Donating blood is comparable to giving life. Like a mother gives birth to a newborn, so thus a blood donor give hope and a chance for survival to that dying patient. Giving blood is a simple process but it may have an immense part in reshaping the lives of others.

There are millions of patients in need of blood, and everyday one person may die because of the lack of blood donor. Each day in the medical field blood is being used to save a patient undergoing a life threatening surgery, a mother giving birth, or a child who had a horrifying accident. Imagine how a pint of your blood can help those people. These people may be strangers you pass by everyday, unknowingly needing your help, or they may be your very own, mother, sister, bestfriend or brother. Not the Doctor, or the Fireman or a Police can save lives. You could be the hero in another person's life. Someone, somewhere in the world needs you to be that hero.