January is Blood Donation Month in the United States, while in the Philippines, it is marked every July as National Blood Donors Month, backed by Presidential Proclamation No. 1021 (1997).

Bloodletting or blood-letting, defined as “deliberate withdrawal of blood” to prevent or cure illnesses, had been common in Europe, from antiquity to the late 19th century, until modern medical studies discovered that the practice had harmful health effects, ranging from dizziness to death.

Blood donation, however, is a different story. According to Dugong Alay, Dugong Buhay Foundation, a non-profit organization advocating for blood donation, donating blood is a national effort to maintain a steady supply of safe blood for those in need.

“We believe in fostering a community of compassion and action, and what greater act of kindness is there than giving the gift of life?” a description on a program supported by Dugong Alay, Dugong Buhay said.

According to the group, encouraging one’s company employees to do a blood donation drive is “a wonderful opportunity” for community service and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Blood donating facts

According to Dugong Alay, Dugong Buhay, here are some trivia you need to know about donating blood:

•Someone needs blood every two seconds and about one in seven people entering a hospital. As a donor, you will help ensure that blood is available whenever you or someone you love may need it.

•One pint of blood can save up to three lives.

•While the entire process — from signing up to leaving — takes about an hour, the blood donation actually usually takes only about 10 minutes.

•You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by blood donation.

•Giving blood will not weaken you.

•Blood donors can donate once every 56 days and platelet donors can give up to 24 times a year.

•Every donation can save up to three lives.

Benefits of donating blood

•Getting a personal health checkup

•Knowing one’s blood type, hemoglobin level and blood pressure

•Bone marrow stimulation to produce active and younger cells

•It is a great way to lose weight — you will weigh one pint less 

After the donation, the donor would regain the body fluid within hours and the red blood cells in a month. It takes eight weeks to restore iron.

Qualifications of a blood donor

•18 to 65 years old

•16 to 17 years old with parental consent

•60 to 65 years old with a doctor’s approval

•At least 115 lbs or 52.5 kilograms

•Blood pressure: 90 to 130 systolic,  60 to 90 diastolic

•Must have stayed in the country for at least a year

•Must have traveled abroad for only less than a month

•No major or minor surgical procedure for a year

•Those with tattoos and piercings could donate 12 months after the procedure (tattoos would be assessed first)

•No alcohol or medicine intake for at least 24 hours

•No smoking four hours before blood extraction

•Had at least five hours of sleep

•Physically healthy

•Negative for sexually-transmitted diseases

•Other guidelines would depend on the interview for physical and medical assessment

“It is among the simplest ways to make a significant, positive impact in the lives of others,” Dugong Alay, Dugong Buhay assured would-be blood donors.

“If you are eligible, please consider donating blood. It is safe, simple and an incredibly impactful way to make a difference.”