Did you know that you do not have to be a doctor to save lives? By donating blood, you give life for those who are in danger of losing it.
Blood connects us all!
The world health organization’s theme of this year’s World Blood Donor Day is “Blood connects us all”. It focuses on thanking blood donors and highlights the dimension of “sharing” and “connection” between blood donors and patients.
“greenarea.info” met DONNER SANG COMPTER (DSC), one of the most active NGOz raising awareness on this humanitarian act, in Gemmayze- Beirut, where DSC organized along with Achrafieh 2020 a Car Free Day on Sunday 12 June 2016, on the occasion of the World blood donor day.
So, what are the benefits of blood donation, and who can donate blood?
Fred Bteich from DSC, told us that “anyone can donate blood, apart from some exceptions, such as having a tattoo or piercing since less than a year, being on certain medications, people who drink alcohol, suffering from chronic diseases, taking anti-coagulants, people who have undergone a surgery,” adding that “contrary to what many people think, smokers are able to donate blood, but we do not encourage smoking of course”.
He also said that “anyone between 18 years old and 65 years old can donate blood, depending on the health status, on several conditions: If the blood donor was a man, then he should weigh more than 60 kg, and a woman should weigh more than 50 kg.”
Reasons for donating blood differ, but eventually, all have the same goal: saving lives!
Belal Reslan, one week ago, while donating blood. (Picture from his Facebook Page).
We met a blood donor who was donating blood in the DSC mobile bus (see details about the bus in the last 2 paragraphs). Upon asking him about the reason he donated blood, he answered: “I had a bad experience, actually my relative had a bad experience; he needs lots of blood, and we couldn’t find,” adding: “I thought that people should have more awareness on the fact of giving blood to others.”
The “life-saver”, who donates once per year, also said that it’s a very simple procedure that could be done at one’s own home comfort.
We also met Belal Reslan, another young blood donor, who could not donate on that day, since he did the week before. The “blood donor” encouraged everybody to donate blood, because it’s “giving life to another person.”
We also asked several people from outside the event why they donate blood, and others why they have not done so. Sam Atoui, for example, donates blood every 3 months, because he has an excess amount of blood as he told us.
Mhammad Harake, also donates blood whenever he hears that someone is in need of his blood type. He feels that he is helping people through donating blood.
Other people told us that they wish they could donate blood, but their medical conditions forbid them from doing so.
Tips while donating blood
Here are some tips while you’re donating blood, given by one of the doctors at DSC:
After telling us that the blood donor has to fill a questionnaire indicating that he/she is healthy, the doctor told us that someone will measure the person’s blood pressure, weight, and height.
A small pinprick will only take a few minutes, and then the blood donor will give 450 millilitres of blood, that can save 3 lives.
After you donate blood:
- Relax
- Drink juice
- Done! You saved 3 lives!
1st Mobile Blood Donation Bus
During the event, the first mobile blood donation bus in Lebanon was launched. What is significant about it is that it will facilitate that “life-saving” process, bringing it to the largest number of areas possible in Lebanon.
The bus includes all the materials needed for the blood donation process, in addition to a TV, which allows blood donors to stay entertained while being in the blood donation process.
What are you waiting for? Wherever you live, you can ask for the nearest place where you can donate blood. After all, saving lives and being more human is one of the ways we can make the planet a better place to live in; at utmost goal.
To see pictures from the World Blood Donor day, and from DSC’s event, click here.
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