Gone are those days when Netaji Subash Bose gave a clarion call to the countrymen, “Give me blood and I shall give you freedom”. During those days, blood was necessary to make our motherland free from Britishers. Today, the situation has undergone a miraculous change. The essentiality of blood donation is beyond imagination. Blood is barely needed during the time of severe war, major accident, serious medical operation etc. A hues quantity of blood comes out of the body and the patient passes through a stage of moribund. The call of suffering people needs immediate treatment.
Thanks to William Harvey, who first discovered the circulation of blood in human body. The quantity of blood is approximately 6.8 litres in men and 500 ml less in women. Blood donation has a far-reaching importance. The donor and the receiver are equally blessed. A blind-belief persists among many people that by giving blood, one becomes weak and feeble. But it is not true. There is less possibility of high blood pressure or heart attack by donating blood. Similarly, by this supreme sacrifice, the precious lives of suffering people are saved. It takes four or five minutes to donate blood and the donor does not feel uncomfortable.
Human blood has been categorized into four groups. Karl Landsteiner is called the father of blood grouping as he had discovered A, B, O blood groups. Subsequently Decastello and Sturle discovered AB blood group. A distressed people can take blood according to his blood group. One person can give 300 ml blood at a time. The blood so collected are examined, refined and reserved in the Blood Bank of big hospitals and are utilized at the time of emergency. Healthy persons between 16 and 60 years old can donate blood. In rural areas, there is no blood bank in Primary Health Centres. Young people voluntarily come forward and give their blood to save the ailing patients from imminent danger. People suffering from Cancer, Jundice, AIDs, Malaria, other serious diseases or consuming intoxicated liquor or higher antibiotics are not allowed to donate blood.
Blood donation is one of the greatest virtues. A few drops of blood can save the lives of many people. It will give new rays of hope and optimism in their lives. For this philanthropic work, 14th of June in every year is observed as ‘World Blood Donor Day’. Now, the time is ripe to realize that we would not allow anybody to die for want of blood. Hence, it is rightly said, “Give Blood, Give Life”.