An Appeal

My dear fellow youths & friends,

I am S. Vancheeswaran, an Executive Member of the Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Ernakulam City Unit.  I am a blood donor too.  I have for about 25 to 35 times donated my blood to various patients in a period of about 13 to 15 years.  I have a small request to YOU ALL.  Kindly prepare yourself and try to donate your blood for maximum patients as and when it is required by someone.  You are not going to lose anything by donating the blood whereas you will only be benfitted by freshing up your own blood.  Every time you donate blood, more fresh blood is generated automatically in your body within the next one to one and a half months.

There are lot of enquiries coming to me even now at this age of 57 years, only because of the fact that I was a regular donor for needy at regular intervals. But it is true that at this age, my blood will NOT BE ACCEPTED by any hospitals.  I am also planning to keep a directory of the blood donors for the KERALA BRAHMANA SABHA, Ernakulam City Unit. If you are interested and if you can join us, it is well and good.  I would request each one of you to give your BIO DATA as early as possible by filling up the form provided in this blog, or sent by post to, The Secretary, Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Ernakulam City Unit or through email at: kbsekmcity@yahoo.com. Even you can SMS to 98954 54182.  You may send a copy to vanchyernakulam@gmail.com; svancheeswaran@yahoo.co.in or sent SMS to 9895060045, 9497039390.

Thanks and Regards,

Here is a few lines about donating blood which will be of interest to you:

S. Vancheeswaran

DONATE BLOOD - SAVE MANY LIVES

BLOOD DONATION

Article Courtesy:  Dr. Shankari R. Shenoy, Consultant Pathologist & Medical Officer, Blood Storage Centre, KIMS, Kochi

Blood donation is a simple procedure and is harmless. Every second someone is critically ill and is in need of blood. One donation can save 2 – 3 lives, since it is separated into different components such as packed cells, fresh frozen plasma & platelets, based on the amount of blood collected. The different types of blood donors are voluntary non - remunerated donors, replacement or relative donors, professional or commercially paid donors, directed donors and autologous donor. Of which, voluntary blood donors play a very important role in blood transfusion services because they belong to low risk category, they are mostly willing to be regular blood donors and they mostly respond to appeals during emergencies. Replacement

donor (donate only for their relatives or friends) is a common practice in our country. Thus, voluntary donation should be encouraged to meet our demands. The blood banks or blood transfusion service should ensure that blood donation does not harm the donor or the recipient of blood.

Accordingly, the donor selection is based on two important things 1. Medical history, 2. Preliminary health check. A person who is 18 - 60 years age, weighing 45 kg can donate 350 ml and 55 kg can donate 450 ml of blood, with haemoglobin level of minimum of 12.5 gm/dl, blood pressure — diastolic  between 60 - 90 mm of mercury and systolic between 100-160 mm of mercury, pulse 60-100 beats/minute and oral temperature not exceeding 37.5 degree Centigrade can donate blood.

Donor should have adequate sleep previous night and food prior to the donation. The donor is counselled and following criteria are checked for deferral and rejection. Condition for deferral are major surgery, tattoo, history of blood transfusion, abortion, history of hepatitis in family or close contact – 6 months, minor surgery - 3 months, typhoid 12 months after recovery. Apart from these alcoholism, medicines, immunization and malaria are also deferred temporarily. Donors suffering from following condition are rejected: Cancer, heart disease, abnormal bleeding tendency, diabetes, hepatitis B infection, chronic nephritis, liver disease, signs and symptoms of AIDS (swollen glands, unexplained weight loss, night sweats etc). The donor’s blood is screened for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, malaria and syphilis. Of recent NAT (Nucleic acid testing) has been introduced in various parts of this country, thus reducing the window period, that is time between donor exposure to the virus and appearance of antibodies. This allows earlier detection of the infection and making the blood more safer.  Normally entire procedure of blood donation can be completed within 1 hour.

Once blood donation is completed, donor is advised to take rest for 20 minutes to check for donor reaction, which include giddiness, fainting, vomiting etc. The donor is advised to take plenty of fluids for next four hours. Donors are cautioned not to smoke and work at height after donation. Donor should avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours. Donor can remove the band - aid after 10 - 12 hours. Blood donation can be done once in 3 months.