Every year on June 14, organizations all around the globe celebrate World Blood Donor Day. An event that raises awareness to the importance that donating blood means to the health industry, as the range of uses is way more diverse than anyone thinks.
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When is World Blood Donor Day?
World Blood Donor Day is observed on June 14. Donating blood is not just for the sole purpose of transfusion — it has many other benefits for the health industry.
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History of World Blood Donor Day:
Following on from the success of World Health Day in the year 2000, which focused on blood donation and the safety of transfusions, ministers of health from all across the world made a unanimous declaration in May 2005, during the 58th World Health Assembly, to designate World Blood Donor Day as an annual event held on every June 14.
World Blood Donor Day aims to raise awareness regarding the need for regular blood donations, important to keep the health industry with a stable supply. This day is also used to thank donors for their service and determination to save lives and make the world a better place.
Importance of Blood Donation:
World Blood Donor Day is an extremely important awareness day. Countries all over the world take part in this campaign to stress the importance of safe blood donation, and why healthy people should absolutely donate blood.
Blood drives are set up in schools, institutions, and workplaces. The day also serves as a thank you to all those who regularly contribute their life-saving gift of blood.
5 Facts About Blood Donation:
It saves lives
Blood donations end up supporting a wide variety of medicine needs, from pre-planned, minor procedures to emergency surgeries. Blood transfusions are an important part of the planned treatment of cancer patients or expecting mothers.
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There’s always a need for more blood donations
Donating blood is a quick, easy, and incredibly safe process, but only a small subsection of the population are regular blood donors. Out of the people who are considered “eligible” to donate blood, only about 10 percent choose to do so.
It’s a global issue
Finding those volunteers and making sure the blood is safe is still a big issue in developing countries, and they often have to rely on either family or paid donations. The WHO is working hard to ensure that, in the near future, blood donations all over the world will be entirely unpaid and voluntary.
FAQs About World Blood Donor Day:
What is the Rh factor?
Rh stands for Rhesus factor, and it’s a protein that lives on the surface of the red blood cells. People who have it are positive, while people who don’t are negative. When it comes to blood transfusion, Rh positive people can receive either kind, but Rh-negative people can only receive Rh negative blood.
What’s the shelf life of donated blood?
Blood components have different measures of times they can be stored. Red blood cells can last up to 42 days; plasma can last for a year when frozen, and platelets can be stored for only five days; so, it is important to keep a regular donation rate.
Where can I donate blood?
There are multiple options and places where to donate blood. Search on the internet for your closest Red Cross, hospital or health organization and schedule a date. It’s quick and easy.
Conclusion:
Every year on June 14, organizations all around the globe celebrate World Blood Donor Day. An event that raises awareness to the importance that donating blood means to the health industry, as the range of uses is way more diverse than anyone thinks.
