Today is World Blood Donor Day  which is celebrated every year to spread awareness about the significance of blood donation and to recognise the contribution of voluntary unpaid blood donors in saving lives. Many people have a misconception about donating blood, they think that giving blood can make them weak and result in low hemoglobin. But that’s a myth as the biggest gift you can give to someone is blood as it can life. So we tell you some facts that you may not know about donating blood:

1. When somebody gives blood the amount of iron cuts down from his body which reduces the risk of heart disease. People who are blood donors always have very low risk of getting heart attack.

2. Cancer is one of the most common problems that people are facing nowadays. Giving blood reduces the risk of cancer including liver, lung, colon, stomach and throat.

3.  Blood that comes for donation is checked for numerous health factors like HIV, syphilis and hepatitis to make sure it can be used.

4. People who donate blood get an opportunity of getting a donor card through which they can help anyone in the future who needs blood. For ex if any mishap happens to a member of their family they can use this card.

5. By donating 1 Unit of blood you can save three lives as it is separated into three parts White Blood Cells, Red Blood Cells and Platelets.

Who can donate blood?

In order to donate blood, a person

• must be at least 16 years old
• must weigh at least  49 Kgs.
• must not currently be ill or suffering from  anemia, uncontrolled diabetes, or uncontrolled hypertension
• Not pregnant

How long does it take for the blood to replenish?

It takes the body 48 hours to replenish plasma and up to 8 weeks to replace the red blood cells.

So, start donating blood without getting worried about your health and if possible donate plasma too.