By Dr Deepa Adiga
Mangaluru, Jan 23: Donating blood is a simple, life-saving act, which takes about 10-15 minutes, and is a safe process using sterile, single-use equipment, leaving you with refreshments afterward.
General requirements
- Age: any one above 18 years up to 60 years
- Weight: 45-55 kgs
- Haemoglobin level: more than 12.5gm/Dl. If required, a test will be done at the donation site to check your haemoglobin levels
- Blood pressure: Within normal range
- Health: You must be in good health at the time you donate.
- A healthy person can donate whole blood once in every three months and single donor platelet twice every week
When you might need to wait to donate
- Recent Procedures: Tattoos, piercings, acupuncture (wait 6 months), dental work (wait 24 hrs/1 month).
- Medications: Certain drugs, antibiotics, or recent immunizations.
- Illness/Infection: You cannot donate if you have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug or any other infection.
- Any resent surgery or dental procedure
- Travel: To malaria-risk areas.
- Pregnancy/Menstruation: Not during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menstrual cycle.
How frequently can you donate blood?
Care after donation:
- Drink plenty of water
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid strenuous physical activity for the day
- Avoid smoking and alcohol
Dr Deepa Adiga is a blood centre officer at KMC Hospital, Mangaluru.