World Blood Donor Day - June 14

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World Blood Donor Day is observed on June 14 worldwide to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life saving gift of blood.


Importance of Blood Donation :

Blood is essential for patients to survive surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illness and traumatic injuries.


Types of Blood Donation :

There are several types of blood donations a single donor can help upto three patients. A single unit of blood can be separated into its different components like red blood cells, plasma and platelets. The most common and flexible blood donation is whole blood which is usually collected in one pint and used to help multiple patients. Plasma, which has blood clotting factors is separated from other blood components and helps trauma patients and those battling diseases like cancer. The primary recipients of platelets are cancer patients as it plays a vital role in cancer treatment. Double red cell donation allows donors to give double the amount of a whole blood donation and is used for anyone suffering from blood loss.


Components of blood :

The four main components of blood are plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Plasma is the liquid component of blood, a mixture of water, sugar, fat, protein and salts which transports blood cells throughout the body along with nutrients, waste products, clotting proteins and hormones.

Red Blood Cells (RBC) are the most abundant cell in the blood, accounting for about 40 to 45 percent of its volume.

White Blood Cells (WBC) protect the body from infection accounting for about one percent of the blood.

Platelets, also called thrombocytes are small fragments of cells which help in the blood clotting process by gathering at the site of an injury.


Types of blood groups :

There are four main blood groups namely :

  1. Group A positive or A negative
  2. Group B positive or B negative
  3. Group AB positive or AB negative
  4. Group O positive and O negative


Eligibility for donating blood :

Any healthy adult, both male and female can donate blood. Men can donate blood once in every three months while women can donate blood every four months. Donors should be between 18 to 65 years and not less than 45 kilograms with haemoglobin not less than 12.5 grams. Donors should not have been treated for malaria in last three months, should not have had tattoo or acupuncture in the last twelve months nor have been affected with Hepatitis B, C, tuberculosis and HIV. Donors should also not have epilepsy, bleeding disorder, thalassaemia or sickle cell anaemia.


Conclusion :

The department of Haematology at Ruby General Hospital provides a comprehensive and state of the art service by means of the outpatient and inpatient facilities. The department is manned by esteemed and experienced haematologists, skilled and compassionate paramedical staff, well trained technicians and nurses.

Location: Kolkata, West Bengal, India

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