Benefits of Blood Donation

March 11, 201o, Thursday. This is the day where I am scheduled to donate blood. I have done this more than a year ago and I am thrilled to do it again. I have made a commitment to share some of my blood to people who need them the most. There has been a greater demand for blood transfusion among patients undergoing surgery and other life-threatening diseases. Unfortunately, the supply has been very small compared to the number of patient cases that need blood transfusion. Also, such procedure is somehow costly and demands utmost care from the medical team.

My first time to donate blood gave me a mixture of emotions. Excitement, fear, joy and confusion filled me the moment I was at step 1 of the procedure. Nevertheless I survived and was able to share a significant amount of blood to the Philippine Blood Center.

The procedure and the benefits of such charitable act were explained to me beforehand. The nurse who was assigned to me carefully assisted me during the process. The moment the needle was stuck on my artery, my face was drained with blood, out of shock of course but eventually, everything was well as I watched the bag being filled with my own precious blood. It might look scary for some, but think of it as an act that would help extend a person's life. I am sure all your worries will be gone.

Did you know that in Italy blood donors receive the donation day as a paid holiday from work? Although the UN declared that all blood donations must come from unpaid volunteers, some agencies give perks and other incentives to encourage people to donate blood.

Agencies like The Philippine National Red Cross and Philippine Blood Center usually hold mass blood-letting in different areas such as colleges and universities, malls and other public areas. But there are other organizations that work in partnership with these agencies, go check your local community for blood-letting projects. Also, some secondary and tertiary hospitals have blood banks where you can go and donate blood after you passed the screening procedure.

As my way of encouraging everyone to donate blood, I have listed down some of the benefits that blood donation can give to the donor's body.

1. Free health screening. Every time you give blood, a medical personnel will check your blood pressure, and other measurements like weight, height and give you a free health check-up. Because of the screening tests, you will be informed if you have any diseases seen in the blood such as anemia, hepatitis or HIV.

2. It prevents iron overload. By donating blood, you can be assured that excess iron will be removed. Excess iron can cause free radical formation in the body.

3. Studies have shown that men who donate blood on a regular basis have a lower risk of heart disease. Although not yet universally accepted by the medical community, rsearchers have found a correlation between high amounts of iron in the bloodstream and heart and circulatory damage.

4. Your body is stimulated to produce new red blood cells replacing the ones you lost for donation. Thus ensuring that your body has a new set of healthy red blood cells. A good way to refresh our circulatory system.

5. Blood donation burns extra calories.

6. It reduces your cholesterol levels. Iron oxidizes cholesterol, so a regulated amount of iron in the blood can help reduce oxidation of cholesterol.


Other perks include:

1. There are agencies and organizations involved in blood-letting that give away free items as their way of showing appreciation to the donors, and who knows you or a loved one might one day be the recipient of a blood donation.

2. Red Cross Donors are given Blood donor cards. An owner of a Blood Donor Card is given priority in case there is a need for a blood transfusion.

3. It gives you the satisfaction and the joy of being able to save a life.

Blood donation is safe and all the materials used in one person are disposed immediately. Within 24 hours, our body has the ability to replace the amount of blood lost during the donation.

Just be sure to donate only at agencies that follow proper handling and administration of blood donation.

So go out and share some love with your blood.