Al Ain: To appreciate regular blood donors and encourage others to come forward, Tawam Hospital's blood bank has launched a two-month long blood donation campaign across the country.

The drive has been entitled as Every Blood Donor is a Hero to reinforce the self-esteem of those who give blood voluntarily and regularly and encourage others to become inspiring local heroes. This is the hospital's annual blood collection campaign that will also mark the World Blood Donors' Day falling on June 14.

During the driver, the blood bank will send its teams and mobile unites to different locations including private and government sector organisations and companies. "It focuses on the idea that everyone potentially can become a hero by giving blood," said Hamad Al Mulla, Director of the Blood Bank that is also known as the Regional Blood Bank.

He said blood donation is a noble cause through which at least four persons' lives can be saved by making just one donation. "Statistics show that one in four of us will require a blood transfusion at least once in our lifetimes - that's someone in every family - and with this campaign we want to encourage the younger generation of the UAE, from all walks of life, all regions, backgrounds, religions and ages, to become heroes and save lives by donating blood," he added.

Donating blood, said Al Mulla, is crucial as blood is needed on a daily basis for trauma victims, heart surgery, organ transplants, thalassemia, and patients receiving treatment for leukaemia, cancer and other diseases.

Most blood centres in the UAE, he said, strive to maintain an optimum inventory level of a three-day supply and due to unpredictable demands from trauma incidents, the inventory fluctuates hourly. When the blood supply drops below a three-day level, blood centres begin alerting local donors to increase the inventory to a safe operating level.

The adult body contains five to six litres (10 to 12 pints) of blood and for a whole blood donation, approximately only half a litre (one pint) is collected. The volume of fluids will adjust within a few hours of donation and the red blood cells are replaced within a few weeks.

"People may donate whole blood once every 56 days, which allows plenty of time for their red cells to be replenished. Blood donors are encouraged to eat well at regular mealtimes and drink plenty of fluids before donating," said the director.

Tawam Hospital's Regional Blood Bank is one of the largest free standing blood donation banks in the UAE, which collected over 14,000 blood units in 2011. "During the last 10 years, approximately 45 per cent of our donors are UAE nationals between 26 to 35 years of age," he said. These heroes set an example for others in the country and blood bank commends all of these donors, especially the young ones, for their heroic and selfless acts, he added.

For further information, blood donors can visit http://www.tawamhospital.ae or call 8008722 toll-free number for more information on venues and dates. Alternatively, the Tawam Hospital Regional Blood Bank welcomes donors all year long.

Points:

  • An adult of average weight has about 10 to 12 units of blood.
  • More than 8 tests, most of which are for infectious diseases, are performed on each unit of donated blood.
  • There is no substitute for human blood.
  • Approximately every two seconds someone needs blood.
  • If you are at least 17 years old, and weigh at least 52 kg you may be eligible to donate blood every 3 months.
  • The actual blood collection takes approximately 10-20 minutes.
  • Shortages of all types of blood often occur during the summer and holidays.