Silverhills Public School

Say ‘Yes’ to Blood Donation and ‘No’ to Bloodbath

The World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on 14 June. 

Blood is our lifeline. Without sufficient blood, no animal or human being can survive. It is the common biotic link of humanity. When we say blood is thicker than water, the value of blood relationship is underscored.

It is not just family members who share blood relationship with each other.  When blood is donated, a new relationship is born between the donor and recipient. There are many cases where the donor does not know who the recipient is going to be.  But, millions of lives are saved by the humane gesture of blood donation.  It is an invaluable service to our fellow beings. That is why every year on 14 June, World Blood Donor Day is celebrated. 

Blood is the priceless common currency of hospitals. There is a blood bank in all major hospitals.  Blood bank stores different groups of blood to meet emergency situations. In India, every year 12 million units of blood are required, out of which only 9 million units come off the blood bank’s shelves through voluntarily donated blood. 

Many people lose lives in the face of accidents and emergencies or complicated surgeries due to the shortage or unavailability of blood in the bank.  Only if people donate blood, the bank will have sufficient stock.

Anyone between the age group of 18 to 65, weighing above 45 kgs, and having a haemoglobin level of 12.5 or above can easily donate blood. The blood donated is less than half of the extra blood which your body does not need. All healthy adults can and should donate blood every three months.

The theme of this year’s World Blood Donor Day is ‘Blood connects us all’.  It thankfully celebrates blood donors and highlights the value of sharing. The day also creates awareness about the need of risk-free blood and safe transfusion.

Many of Silver Hills parents and teachers donate blood regularly. Several of them are also members of blood donors’ forum.  If not, let us convince them about the value of the great gesture.

Let me conclude by saying ‘yes’ to blood donation and ‘no’ to bloodbath.

M. Gopinath