My Experience With Blood Donation

Blood is a fluid connective tissue that flows through closed system of veins and arteries in our body. It comprises of approx 7 to 8% body weight of human body. A normal healthy male contains 5 to 6 liters and female cotains 5to 6 liters of blood in the body. It consists of 2 basic components: blood plasma 55% and blood cells 45%. The major functions of blood in the body is to carry oxygen and nutrients, transport essential components, protect the body and help in blood clotting.

As being a medical student and as working in the hospitals for almost 7 years, I have known the importance of blood and blood donation much now. So I have been a regular donor now and have donated whole blood for 4 times upto now.

I was always curious about blood donation since my childhood. I used to see free blood donation camps often in the streets or public parks or local schools and used to watch curiously. Even during hospital visits for myself, I was curious about syringes and blood drawing. Growing up, I became more interested in social works and helping people at need. My mother was also interested in boood donation and wanted to do so. But she never got a chance or didnt actively seek for the opportunity. So I had in mind that I will donate blood when I will be eligible by age and other physical requirements.

After getting enrolled in Nursing school, I was always looking  for an opportunity to donate blood. But I never got a chance and I didn't actively seek for one too. But when I started to work in the NICU, I realised what a pint of bood can do. I realised the power of one pint of blood and how it can save life of a person. I saw the need of blood transfusion to the premature babies and even term babies and how could it save their life. I saw how baby's breathing improved and how the baby survived the illness by just blood transfusion. I saw the struggle of poor parents to search for whole blood and blood components in one and another blood banks and hospitals. I read news how a postpartum mother would die due to PPH who could have survived if she had blood transfused. I read various news regarding unavailability of blood in case of need and  emergency.

So I made my decision and had my first blood donation. I was really happy that my blood could save a mother, or a child ,or a trauma patient or anyone in need. It was difficult to assess my veins for donation and even now I get pricked on both hands sometimes because of small veins. But even I am really happy everytime I donate blood. It has been 4 times I already donated blood and I am looking forwars to donating many times.

Finally, to all those people who think blood donation is not good for own health, it is totally a myth. Nothing happens to the body from bood donation except for few adverse effects in some people. Blood cells keep on regenerating over few weeks  and blood plasma is replenished within 48 hrs of donation. And healthy male can donate every 3 monthly and female can donate in every 4 months.

Let's help those in need because we never know when we may have need for transfusion. Let's donate blood and save more lives.