We all know how important blood donation is. Or do we really? Most Filipinos, including myself, gets afraid when we talk about donating blood. This can be attributed to the fact that there are so many myths and misconceptions about blood donation. Some think that when you donate your blood, you are actually “sacrificing” because you are losing something you might never get back. But this isn’t true. If you are healthy (you should be, if you are donating blood), then your body can reproduce enough blood to replace what you donated in a matter of 24 hours.

For some a blood donation is a gift of life – an offering to the community and to the people who need it. In a study conducted by the National Blood Foundation in the US, it was found that most people who donate blood do it to help others. Quite a few said that they do it in order to feel good about themselves and as a way of paying back the society for the times that their family members needed transfusions in the past. Whatever your purpose is, one thing is sure – you are helping someone.
Of course, if you are donating blood, you need to be healthy and well rested. Also, you need to avoid fatty foods and make sure that you have some food to eat before the actual blood donation. Alcohol and medication should be avoided at least 24 hours prior to blood donation.
After donating blood, the doctor (sometimes a volunteer) will give you advice on what you should do. It is important that you follow these to keep yourself healthy. You will need to drink plenty of fluids like water or juice as you can become dehydrated after donating. In most cases, you will have to refrain from stooping down to avoid blood from getting to your head which could make you dizzy. Also, you will feel a little week after donating blood so you need to avoid strenuous activities such as lifting heavy objects and driving vehicles. It is important that you avoid lifting heavy objects using the puncture arm in order to avoid accidents.

If you experience bleeding on the punctured arm, apply pressure on the site. You might also experience discoloration and swelling on the site, for this, apply cold compress for 24 hours, and hot compress for the next 24 hours. If you still feel dizzy after donating blood, lie down with your feet elevated and drink plenty of fluids. Do not be afraid, these are all normal and will soon pass. If it helps, keep in mind that you are doing a good thing and a little dizziness is all you have to endure.

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow and is characterized by abnormal production by multiplication of white blood cells called leukocytes. One known personality in the Philippines who is diagnosed by this disease is the popular host of Eat Bulaga and Filipino Rap musician Francis Magalona. He formally released a statement regarding his condition at a noontime variety TV Show Eat Bulaga last August. This was a great shock for everyone who is closed with Francis M and the showbiz world. Cancer really hit people unexpectedly and anybody can have it. No one is exempted, rick or poor, children or adult and male or female.

In his condition, it requires blood transfusion and requires a lot of individuals to donate blood to cope up with his scheduled blood transfusion in the future. That’s why having a website like the Philippines Blood Registry in the Philippines that allows you to search for blood donors in the future is a convenience for both the patients and families of the patients.

- Gurl Mingot

The little kid ran out into the street unexpectedly.  The slow moving car had no time to react. It ran over the child. For the 10 or 15 people in the immediate vicinity – time stood still as the screeching tires and thud registered in their minds.

The child’s blood was everywhere on the street. The mother and driver appeared in shock.  Someone called an ambulance. It was a small town – the transport was there in minutes. The child and mother were to be taken to the small hospital in the next larger town.

Some of the bystanders exchanged contact information.
We got back in our car and continued our trip.

Later someone wrote and said there had been massive internal damage.  The hospital didn’t have enough of the child’s blood type on hand to sustain the emergency operations. They tried to quickly find more blood somewhere – anywhere. By the time donors were located – time had run out. There was no further need to donate.

It only took a second for the accident to happen. It took more then half a day to try and find donors of the correct blood type. Better idea: identify donors in advance of the need.

Gilda

Editor’s Note: Help build the national online database of individual’s willing to donate blood in the event of a future accident – operation – illness. It’s dumb to waste lives because information wasn’t organized in advance – made available with a mouse click. www.PhilippinesBloodRegistry.com

Tell members of your local Medical community about the Registry. They’re the ones that have to watch in frustration as a life slowly fades.