Donors have 80% less risk of heart attack

Visakhapatnam: A unit of 350-450 ml blood can save three lives as components like platelets, plasma and red blood cells can be administered to three different persons. Studies indicate that regular blood donors are 80 per cent less likely to suffer a heart attack as donating blood boosts cardiovascular health. With the focus on 'safe blood for all' experts emphasise the need for safe blood delivery in healthcare interventions on the occasion of the 'World Blood Donor Day' celebrated across the world on June 14.

The demand-supply gap has seen an improvement in the recent years. From a 40 per cent deficit witnessed by blood banks four years back, it has now come down to 15-20 per cent. "Thanks to the heightened awareness levels and rise in the number of voluntary and regular blood donors, the demand-supply position has largely changed over the years.

It is certainly a welcome sign. But the trend should improve further," explains A Sugandhi, medical director of A S Raja Voluntary Blood Bank. From the age of 18 years to 65, experts recommend donating blood once in three months, maintaining a minimum 12.5 haemoglobin level.

Regular donors find that donating blood is a healthy practice. Even after donating 95 units of blood, Pilla Venkata Ramanmurthy, Sanskrit faculty of Dr Lankapalli Bullayya College, says that he aims to hit a century before he completes 65 years. The 62-year-old says that he leads an active and healthy lifestyle and is free of BP and diabetes.

Associations involved in hosting blood donation camps observe a change in the trend as many youths come forward to contribute to the cause. Formed in 2008, Ukku Voluntary Blood Donors Association has a network of 900-plus employees of various departments from Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). "The association has so far donated 2,500 units of blood ever since its inception.

Most of them catered to the emergency requirement of various hospitals. The idea is to help reach out to patients in dire need through WhatsApp groups and save lives. We also provide our contact numbers to staff of hospitals so that they can reach us in case of any emergency," explains J Mohan Kumar, the association's founder and radiographer of Medical Department, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

Demanding own mines, CITU Steel Plant Visakhapatnam hosted 'blood for mines', a blood donation camp, for the past two years. In connection with this, it is bagging an award of memento from Governor E S L Narasimhan for the highest collection of 677 blood units at a single venue during 2018-19 and for motivating donors.

When a person donates blood, it takes three months for the body to replace the lost blood volume. However, experts suggest to check the safety and hygiene standards while donating blood.