How the Youth Blood Donation Campaign Can Save Many Lives

According to information from the National Ministry of Health, nine out of 10 people will need blood for them or their environment at some point in their lives. And one in seven hospitalized patients will require a blood transfusion.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unique challenges, including severe shortage of blood donations and plasma in Argentina. Thus, the voluntary donation of blood is a transcendental act of solidarity, which makes it possible to ensure a constant and safe supply to those who need it.

In the country, according to official figures, only 1.5% of the population donates blood. “We believe the best way to raise awareness of the importance of voluntary donation is to bring the blood bank closer to the community,” they state on their Fundación Hemocentro Buenos Aires website.

Fundación Hemocentro Buenos Aires is a non-profit organization that for more than 20 years has been receiving blood donors and supplying blood components to various sanatoriums, foundations and clinics.

“In our country, the largest amount of blood comes from donors who, in general, are relatives, friends or acquaintances of the patient who needs a transfusion,” they say of the organization.

In this sense, they warned that “this situation is not ideal since these donors are not only concerned about the situation that the affected person is going through, but also, on many occasions, they are pushed by the own family nucleus of the patient to cover the number of donors they need. This may mean that they are not entirely honest during the medical interview, which is the first filter to prevent people who have been exposed to a risky situation to give.

And after adding that “although blood is studied, there is what is called a serological window, which is a time when a person has contracted a disease that does not yet show up in tests. “, they pointed out: “For this it is considered that the safest blood comes from voluntary and regular donors and unrelated to the patient.

And they expanded: “Blood must pass through multiple instances to reach the patient: from the donor’s administrative reception (where he is entered by the system and a personal form is provided to be completed); the confidential medical interview by which the state of health of the potential donor is assessed and his suitability is determined; up to the extraction of the blood by the technical staff with the use of disposable equipment”.

They also indicated that the next steps are “the processing of blood which is divided into blood components (plasma, red blood cells, platelets and cryoprecipitates); the preservation of said products in refrigeration chambers adapted to the temperature corresponding to each blood component; molecular biology and serology studies which, thanks to very complex equipment, search the blood for possible diseases that can be transmitted by transfusion and, finally, the distribution of the units to health establishments, thanks to vehicles specifically conditioned for this purpose “.

“It is necessary to have the support of many more people, especially young people who are ready to be part of a cause that could improve or save the lives of thousands of people. We are counting on them to make this possible,” said Guillermo Orjuela Falla, Medical Director of the Transfusion Medicine Area at Abbotta leading healthcare company.

The specialist pointed out that in just 10 minutes, the time needed to extract whole blood (about 450 ml), could save the lives of up to three people.

“It is important that we promote voluntary and frequent blood donation among young people, Millennials and Generation Z, as an act of solidarity and social responsibility,” said Orjuela Falla. The commitment of these generations is crucial to securing the blood supply for years to come. We do not yet have a substitute for blood, so we will continue to depend on it and the willingness of donors to improve and save the lives of people in need of transfusion.

As the world opens up again and people catch up on the things they wanted to do and put off for the past few years, experts have urged people to put blood donation on their list of resolutions this year.

According to the Ministry of Health, if between 3 and 5% of Argentines gave blood twice a year, 100% of the country’s needs would be covered.

From Abbott they listed how each can achieve this:

1- Those who are already donors must continue to do so regularly. They can donate plasma every 28 days and whole blood every 56 days (it is recommended that the maximum number of annual blood donations not exceed four for men and three for women).

2- Who is not a donor, should consider becoming one if the person is eligible.

At this point, regarding the requirements for donating blood, UK Flavia Cimillo Hospital Hemotherapy and Immunology Technique listed:

– Be in possession of the National Identity Document (DNI), be rested, have slept at least 6 hours, not have fasted, eat something light and drink plenty of water, before and after the donation.

– Weigh more than 50 kilos and be in good health (which is assessed by the health professional during the confidential pre-donation consultation).

– Not to suffer from diseases transmitted by blood and not to have been in sexual contact with people who suffer from them.

– Not having undergone surgery or having tattoos in the past year.

– Teenagers aged 16 to 18 must present authorization from their mother, father or guardian.

3- Spread the word among your friends, family and followers.

4- When everyone donates, upload a selfie with the hashtag #DonaSangreDaVida there #SiDonasSangreRegalasVida to their personal social networks to show their support for the cause and inspire their followers to donate.

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