BLOOD TRANSFUSION UNIT

This is where blood donation takes place. Blood are taken from regular blood donors, screened and stored in the blood bank for a maximum of 35 days. Anyone between the age 16-60 years of age can donate blood. Before blood is used, it is screened to find out if it is safe to transfuse into a patient. All blood taken is screened for example diseases HIV, syphilis ,hepatitis and HTLV-1 before it is transfused into a patient. The blood transfusion of the hospital ensures that there is always sufficient supply of blood in the blood bank.

DONATING BLOOD

Blood donation is when somebody gives blood whereas blood transfusion is when someone receives the donated blood. There is also what is termed ‘autologous donation’, that is when a person gives blood for his or her own self. This is for certain operations – you can ask your doctor and he/she can advise you about it. Blood is essential to life, and it cannot be replaced by any artificial substitutes. It performs a number of functions. They include substance distribution, regulation of body fluids and body protection. Hence donating blood is a life saving act.

Blood accounts for approximately 8% of human body weight. It’s average volume in healthy adult males is 5-6 litres, and in healthy adult females 4-5 litres.

This blood volume may change slightly in the same person form time-to-time, varying with hot weather, muscular exercise, high altitudes and pregnancy. Depending on the amount of oxygen it is carrying, the color of blood varies form scarlet (oxygen rich) to dark red (oxygen poor).

When you give blood you may be helping:

Someone who has been involved in accident
Someone who has given birth
A baby born with jaundice
Someone with leptospirosis or burns
Someone who is having an operation
Someone with cancer or kidney problems
Someone who’s blood refuses to clot ( haemophiliacs)
Someone who has anaemia or sickle cell disease
One of your friends or family

SAFE BLOOD DONATIONS

To ensure a safe blood transfusion and reduce the risk of infection three main steps are followed:

Careful selection of blood donors

The blood transfusion service aims to exclude potential donors who may carry infectious agents through self-exclusion, which is by helping them recognize that they should not donate blood. This involves helping them examine their risk factors for infections. A physical examination is also carried out. All this takes place before you donate blood.