World Blood Donor Day 2024: What Can You Do and Who Can Donate Blood? Know Here

Every year on June 14th, the world celebrates World Blood Donor Day. This year marks a special milestone - the 20th anniversary of recognising the incredible contribution of voluntary blood donors. Donated blood is essential for surgeries, accident victims, people battling illnesses like cancer, and many other situations.

🩸 World Blood Donor Day!
🌍 Let's celebrate the life-saving act of blood donation and honor the heroes who give the gift of life. Every drop counts and can make a huge difference. Be a hero, donate blood, and save lives. #WorldBloodDonorDay #GiveBlood #SaveLives pic.twitter.com/cCNMl0R11x

— West Central Railway (@wc_railway) June 14, 2024

What You Can Do for World Blood Donor Day

There are many ways to get involved and support World Blood Donor Day:

• Donate Blood: If you meet the eligibility criteria (details below), consider donating blood. It's a safe and relatively simple process that can save lives.
• Organise a Blood Donation Drive: Partner with your local blood bank or hospital to host a blood donation drive.
• Spread Awareness: Talk to your friends and family about the importance of blood donation. 
• Volunteer at a Blood Bank: Blood banks often need volunteers to help with tasks like registration and donor support.
• WHO mentions: “Commit to being a regular donor and give blood throughout the year.”

How Can Ministries of Health Help?

Here are some ways in which Ministries of Health around the world can contribute for World Blood Donor Day according to WHO: 

• Host virtual events and activities to raise awareness about the importance of giving blood.
• Partner with social media influencers and celebrities to spread the message.
• Encourage schools, workplaces, and community centres to organise virtual blood donation drives (where possible, or to direct people to local donation centres.
• Publicly thank and celebrate regular blood donors.
• Share inspiring stories of how blood donation has saved lives.
• Invest in resources and infrastructure to streamline the blood donation process.
• Support the development of a national blood transfusion network for equitable access to safe blood products.
• Implement strict quality assurance measures to ensure blood safety.
• Organise press briefings and interviews to discuss the importance of blood donation.
• Highlight the successes and challenges in meeting national blood needs.

Who Can Donate Blood?

Eligibility requirements for blood donation can vary slightly depending on location, but here's a general guideline according to WHO: 

• Age: Typically between 18 and 65 years old.
• Weight: Minimum weight is usually around 50 kg (110 lbs).
• Health: Be in good overall health, free from any infections or chronic illnesses.
• Haemoglobin Level: Meet the minimum haemoglobin level requirement, which is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
• Blood Pressure: Have normal blood pressure during the donation process.

Additional factors that may affect eligibility include:

• Recent travel to certain areas
• Tattoos or piercings (usually require a waiting period)
• Pregnancy
• Certain medications

Before donating blood, it's important to check with your local blood bank or healthcare provider to confirm the specific eligibility criteria in your area.

Celebrate World Blood Donor Day by becoming a lifesaver. Donate blood and inspire others to do the same!

READ| World Blood Donor Day 2024: Theme, Key Messages and Facts You Need to Know