Millions of people die each year without life saving blood transfusions, and every three seconds someone needs blood around the world. Just one pint of donated blood, can save as many as three people’s lives.

Who Can Donate Blood?

• Blood donors in good health and not suffering from a cold, flu or other illness at the time of donation
• Aged between 18 and 70 years
• With a weight at least 45 Kg
• With a minimum haemoglobin level of 12.5 g/dl
• A blood donor should not have donated blood in the last 12 weeks
• Meet guidelines designed to protect both the donor and people who will receive the blood

Why Donate Blood?

The first reason for donating blood is to help others. Secondly, there is no substitute for human blood.

Importance of Blood Donation

Millions of people die each year without life saving blood transfusions, and every three seconds someone needs blood around the world. Just one pint of donated blood, can save as many as three people’s lives.

The Blood Donation Procedure

If all blood donors give blood 2 to 4 times a year, it can prevent blood shortages. Blood donation takes four steps: medical history, quick physical, donation, and refreshments.

The actual blood donation usually takes less than 10 minutes.

Facts about Blood Donation

• There is almost no hazard in donating blood.
• Only sterile and disposable needles are used to collect blood. There is no chance of catching any infectious disease by donating blood, using safe and sterile needles.

Myths about Blood Donation

• Giving blood reduces your strength.
• You get AIDS, hepatitis or any other infectious disease by donating blood.

Who are the people you will be helping by blood donations?

• People who have been in car accidents, trauma ,and suffered massive blood loss.
• Patients undergoing bone marrow transplants for leukemia and similar diseases. 
• Burn victims.
• Children being treated for cancer & heart surgery; premature infants.
• Anaemic & haemophilic patients.
• Cancer, transplant ,and trauma patients and patients undergoing open heart surgery.
• Mass disasters- such as terrorist attacks or  natural disasters. For example- in the days following the September 11 attacks, half a million people donated blood.

How can you help the blood donation drive?

• You can donate blood yourself.
• Relate your experience to your friends / colleagues and motivate them to become regular blood donors like yourself.
• Any company, community organization, place of worship or individual can contact their local community blood center to host a blood drive.
• Much of today’s medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors.

How often can I donate blood?

• It is safe to donate blood every three months.