Thank you, blood donors!

Have you ever participated in voluntary blood donation? Is blood donation harmful to the body? Where does the donated blood go? Dahe.com specially launched the 2024 World Blood Donor Day theme interview, inviting Han Xiaogai, deputy director of the blood donation publicity and recruitment department of the Henan Red Cross Blood Center, and Li Zhongzhou, director of the activity department of the Henan Capital Volunteer Blood Donation Service Team, to the live broadcast room to talk about blood donation.

Donating blood does not spread disease and can also reduce blood viscosity

Every time a blood donor extends his arm, he is passing on the hope of life. Han Xiaogai said that blood donation not only does not cause anemia, but also does not spread diseases. In addition, donating blood in moderation is usually beneficial to the body.

Under normal circumstances, the body's hematopoietic function will replenish lost blood cells in a timely manner according to the body's needs, and the amount of blood donated each time is generally within a safe range and will not cause anemia. The formal blood donation process and operation strictly follow the sterility and safety standards, use strictly sterilized instruments and equipment, and will not spread diseases.

"Donating blood in moderation can also stimulate the bone marrow's hematopoietic function and promote blood metabolism, which has a positive impact on health to a certain extent." Han Xiaogai said, of course, blood donation also has certain indications and contraindications. Strict health checks and assessments will be carried out before donating blood to ensure the safety of the donors and the quality of the donated blood.

Han Xiaogai believes that blood donation can promote blood metabolism, reduce blood viscosity, provide precious blood for patients who need blood transfusion treatment, bring hope of life to patients, and enhance social responsibility. At the same time, some health checks will be carried out before blood donation, which is equivalent to a free preliminary physical examination for the blood donors.

Han Xiaogai reminded that the interval between whole blood donation should be no less than 6 months; the interval between single-donor platelet donation should be no less than 2 weeks, and no more than 24 times/year. Due to special matching needs, the shortest interval time should be no less than 1 week with the approval of the doctor; the interval between whole blood donation and single-donor platelet donation should be no less than 4 weeks; the interval between whole blood donation and single-donor platelet donation should be no less than 3 months.

Donating blood in moderation can make people healthier and live longer

"Blood cells mainly come from hematopoietic multipotent stem cells in the bone marrow. After people enter adulthood, the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow, like other organs in the body, gradually declines with age." Li Zhongzhou said that people who insist on donating blood in moderation for a long time have a higher proportion of fresh blood cells than those who have never donated blood because their bone marrow hematopoietic system is constantly stimulated, maintaining a relatively vigorous metabolism and constantly producing more vital young blood cells.

In addition, blood donation can reduce blood viscosity, thus speeding up blood flow, increasing cerebral blood flow, and increasing oxygen supply, making people feel lighter and clearer. Therefore, Li Zhongzhou believes that people who insist on long-term and appropriate blood donation are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and other cancers, and are healthier and live longer.

Li Zhongzhou introduced that in order to successfully donate blood, one must maintain a good living habit and work and rest habits, otherwise one will not meet the blood donation requirements due to personal reasons. These habits make people healthier, such as not eating greasy and spicy food, not staying up late, not drinking, etc. These are all to keep blood donors in a good physical and mental state.

Li Zhongzhou believes that successful blood donation is one of the important signs of good health.

"The first time I donated blood was on September 12, 1999. It is a day I will never forget because it was also the first time I saved a life. It is very worth commemorating." Li Zhongzhou said that he has donated blood 99 times so far, including 5 times of whole blood and 99 times of component blood. He won the National Blood Donation Contribution Award Gold Award and the National Blood Donation Volunteer Service Five-Star Award.

Li Zhongzhou said that looking back on his 25-year blood donation experience, if the first blood donation was an accidental act, then every blood donation thereafter became a habit. When he thought that every time he stretched out his arm he could bring hope to life, every time he rolled up his sleeves he felt extremely proud and proud!

It is reported that someone compared 332 blood donors aged 66 and above with 399 people of the same condition who had never donated blood. The results showed that the survival rate of blood donors was significantly higher than that of non-blood donors, and those who donated a larger amount of blood survived longer.

Why is blood donation free but blood transfusion is charged?

"Free blood donation is a public welfare act aimed at helping patients who need blood transfusions." Han Xiaogai said, and paid blood use is to cover the costs incurred during blood collection, storage, testing, and transportation.

As knowledge about blood donation becomes more popular, more and more people are accepting blood donation and are no longer afraid of it. So, after blood leaves the body, what steps does it go through before it can be used clinically? Han Xiaogai introduced that after the blood is collected by the blood station, it will be tested to ensure the safety of the blood, including testing blood type and screening for various infectious diseases. Qualified blood will be separated, processed and stored according to different blood components (such as red blood cells, plasma, platelets, etc.).

Afterwards, the processed blood will be allocated according to the hospital's blood needs and used to treat patients who need blood transfusions, such as surgical patients, anemia patients, blood disease patients, trauma patients, etc.

"The blood collected every day is not used directly in clinical practice. Instead, it will be supplied to hospitals on demand after being ensured to be safe and effective under a strict quality control and management system." Han Xiaogai said that the shelf life of different types of blood components is different.

Han Xiaogai introduced that whole blood and red blood cells can generally be stored for about 35 days at 2-6°C, and platelets can generally be stored for about 5 days at 20-24°C with constant shaking. Fresh frozen plasma can be stored for 1 year at -20°C or below. Cryoprecipitate can be stored for 1 year at -20°C or below.

"Before donating blood, we will draw blood for related tests such as hemoglobin, blood type, hepatitis B, transaminase, syphilis, and blood cell count as required, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes." Han Xiaogai said that after the blood is brought back to the station, it will be tested a second time to ensure the safety of blood for the recipient to the greatest extent.