Blood Donation Myths vs. Facts: Why You Should Donate

Misconceptions about blood donation and myths often prevent people from engaging in what is among the easiest ways to save a life! In India, over 12 million units of blood are required every year, and we remain short.

When you give your blood, you are not giving a pint of blood; you are giving hope to those who are struggling for their life, be it due to some critical sickness or an accident, across the nation. Around 38% of the blood donations in India are voluntary, and the rest 62% are replacement donors (friends or family).

Blood transfusions are documented to save millions of lives around the world, and in India, they are essential for the cure of conditions such as thalassemia, haemophilia, cancer, and trauma.

Common Myths About Blood Donation Debunked

Myths sometimes stop people from donating blood. Understanding these myths may increase the number of people who donate blood within their lifetime.

Myth: Giving blood hurts.

Fact: You’ll feel a quick pinch as the needle goes in, but there is generally no pain. The donation process only takes a few minutes.

Myth: You can get infections if you donate blood.

Fact: The equipment is sterile and disposable, which means there is no risk of infection.

Myth: Donating blood makes you weaker.

Fact: The body replaces the blood volume it’s lost quickly, generally within 24-48 hours.

Myth: Only individuals with unique blood types are wanted.

Fact: Blood of all types is vital; the demand is for both common blood and rarer types.

Myth: If you have tattoos or piercings, you cannot donate blood.

Fact: You can delay donating blood after the wait period (most often 12 months) after the procedure, as long as you are healthy.

What is Blood Donation?

Blood donation is the act of giving your blood voluntarily and free of charge so it can be used for medical purposes. The donated blood is collected, tested, and stored in a blood bank where it will be transfused to a patient or patients who need it. Blood is made up of several components: red blood cells, plasma, to mention a few. Each blood component has a different function in the body and may be used for specific treatments.

The blood donation process is secure, easy, and quick and requires less than an hour normally. Whilst the process of donating blood is easy, your donation could make a big difference and can really be between life and death. The greatest thing about giving blood is that no one organization or agency can claim credit for blood donations; each blood donation is based only on the goodwill of others who sacrifice an hour of their own busy time to give a part of themselves to save the life of another individual.

Why Blood Donation Matters

1. Saves Lives Every Day

The easiest explanation that donating blood is important is that it saves lives. Blood transfusion plays a vital contribution in emergencies such as road accidents, surgeries, complications during childbirth, and severe injuries. Hospitals cannot provide the required treatment without an adequate supply of blood. Someone somewhere in the world needs blood every two seconds.

Whether it’s a child who is ill, undergoing treatment for a critical illness, or an adult recovering from extensive surgery, donated blood is essential. It could save many lives if the right blood type is available at the right moment.

2. Supports Medical Treatments Beyond Emergencies

Though most people think of emergency transfusions first, blood donation also supports treatment continuing over time. Patients with chronic conditions such as anaemia, cancer, haemophilia, and kidney diseases often receive regular transfusions to stabilize their health. For instance:

-Patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy often require platelet transfusions to allow the blood to clot correctly.

-People with blood disorders, such as sickle cell anaemia, also receive red blood cell transfusions almost routinely to reduce symptoms.

-Patients undergoing surgery require blood to replace blood loss during surgeries.

We cannot sustain these therapeutic treatments without a reliable supply of donated blood.

3. Maintains a Stable Blood Bank Supply

Blood is a quickly decaying resource. Red blood cells can last around 35 days, while platelets can last around 5. For this reason, blood banks must have a constant stream of currently donated blood for the supply to remain stable.

Hospitals like Dispur Hospital make heavy demands on its blood bank to ensure that all blood groups are available at any one time and in sufficient quantity. Blood banks only have a limited amount of time to retain their blood donors before blood begins to expire. If there were no regular blood donors, blood banks could experience shortages, allowing for delays in patient care.

4. Addresses Natural Disasters and Mass Casualties

Natural disasters or instances of mass casualties typically have a major, immediate impact on blood demands. With a sufficient blood supply, some victims of a disaster may have a chance at recording a live-saving surgery.

Blood donor drives held before and after disasters play an important role in creating blood inventories and restoring blood donation organizations inventories. The act of donating blood, before and after disasters, is a way for you to help assure hospitals and health care organizations are prepared for the massive demands when disasters occur.

Who Can Donate Blood?

Anyone who is a healthy adult can donate blood, but there are eligibility requirements to ensure the safety of everyone involved. The requirements generally allow blood donation as long as:

You are aged between 18 years and 65 years (sometimes up to 70, depending on state of health).
You weigh above 50kg, to ensure that enough blood can be safely collected.
You have no known history of specific diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, or other diseases that can be passed to the blood recipient.
You are not taking medications that affect the safety of your blood.
You have no recent infections or vaccinations that may disqualify the donation (in the case of recent vaccination, the time of donation may be a deciding factor).
You have not recently returned from travel to areas with higher transmissibility of infectious diseases (for example, malaria or Zika).

Once a prospective donor decides to donate blood, they will undergo a short health screening test. The health test generally measures haemoglobin, blood pressure, and temperature to confirm that the individual is suitable to donate. The screening process is in place to protect both the donor and the blood recipient.

Types of Blood Donation

It is useful to understand the different types of blood donation so you can decide what works best for you and what is needed more often!

1. Whole blood donation

This is the most frequent sort of donation, where we take about 450 ml of whole blood from you (a ‘unit’ of blood) and then separate your blood into components (red cells, plasma and platelets) so that it will help more than one patient.

2. Platelet donation (Apheresis)

This is another specific type of donation, but it is only platelets being collected. Platelets are essential in clotting and need to be maintained in cancer patients, as they have very low levels of platelets to begin with. Blood is drawn from the donor, and platelets are separated and collected; the remaining components are returned back to the donor. This process will take longer than whole blood, but can be done more frequently!

3. Plasma Donation

Plasma is made up of the liquid part of blood that helps transport proteins and antibodies necessary for healing. A plasma donation benefits patients with clotting disorders and immune deficiencies.

4. Double Red Cell Donation

This procedure collects twice the normal amount of red blood cells from you, but your plasma and platelets are returned. This process takes longer than a normal donation, but can greatly help patients who require larger amounts of red blood cells, such as those suffering from severe anaemia.

What Happens After You Donate Blood?

After your donation is collected, it is tested multiple times for safety. The testing includes infectious disease testing and checks for diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. Only after testing has been completed and deemed safe, is it stored for transfusion.

Blood components are stored at prescribed temperatures and conditions (e.g., refrigerated for red cells, room temperature with constant agitation for platelets, and frozen for plasma), and hospitals then access these blood components for the treatment of patients as needed.

Moreover, your one donation may help multiple patients because blood is separated into components. This best practice allows blood components to get the most out of every donor’s blood donation.

Benefits of Donating Blood

Apart from saving lives, donation of blood has numerous advantages to the donor:

Improved cardiovascular health: Donating blood decreases the likelihood of iron overload, which has been linked to heart disease.
Burning Calories: Donating blood burns an estimated 650 calories, which can serve as a minor assistance to weight loss.
Free health check: You also get a mini health check before you donate blood, where they measure your haemoglobin and your blood pressure and your temperature.
Personal fulfillment: Being aware that you did your share to save lives provides you with emotional highs and meaning.
Be a part of the community: Donating blood is a selfless act to assist others and enhances mutual social responsibility.

A Guide to Safe Blood Donations

If you are ready to make a difference, here are the steps to donate blood safely:

Before Donation:

Eat a good meal, but avoid fatty foods
Drink plenty of fluids
Wear comfy clothing (sleeves can be rolled up)

During Donation:

Usually takes 15-20 minutes
You will be in a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down
Blood will be drawn with sterile equipment

After Donation:

Relax for 10-15 minutes
Eat a light snack and hydrate
Do not do any strenuous activity within the rest of the day

How You Can Help Beyond Donating

If you cannot donate blood, there are still many ways you can help:

Advocate: Spread the word by sharing facts and stories about giving blood with your friends and family.
Organise blood donation events: Work with local organisations, businesses or schools.
Volunteer: Support blood banks with admin and logistics.
Become an ambassador for blood donation: The more people who donate regularly, the more prepared a blood bank is.

Why Every Drop Counts

Every blood donation can help as many as three patients because blood can be broken down into different components. That means your generosity can go far. Blood is not artificial; we rely on kind, compassionate people to make blood donations.

When you donate blood, you become part of a chain that delivers a helping hand in the most difficult times of a person’s life. Your act of kindness is a glimmer of hope, a chance to survive and an act of humanity.

Conclusion

Blood donation, especially on a routine basis, is instrumental in saving lives and keeping our structures strong. Understanding why blood donation is important and choosing to stay connected with this act of compassion are essential in empowering our community to respond more effectively to medical emergencies, but also to ongoing treatment reliant on blood donation.

At Dispur Polyclinic and Hospitals, our blood bank works hard to manage blood donation responsibly and purposefully. Become the reason for someone alive to be given a second chance, donate blood, and stay connected, with a single goal of a healthier, stronger tomorrow.

Call us today at +91-8822669275 or visit us today and become a life-saver. A small act can make a big impact.