What is blood donation?

Blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma, and these different components all have their roles and can be used independently or not as needed. The name “blood donation” actually groups together three types of donation:

Whole blood donation. During this donation, all the elements of the blood are taken. A woman can donate blood 4 times a year and a man 6 times. 8 weeks must separate each donation.

The donation of plasma. To collect only plasma, the blood is filtered and the other blood components are returned directly to the donor. You can donate your plasma every 2 weeks.

Donating platelets. Donating platelets works like donating plasma, only platelets are collected and the rest of the blood is returned to the donor. Platelets can only be stored for 5 days. You can donate platelets every 4 weeks and up to 12 times a year.

How does a blood donation go?

Donating blood is usually done the same way. After being received in the collection center, the donor goes through several stages:

• Interview with the doctor : the donation candidate is systematically received by a doctor before his donation. He checks his state of health, his personal and family history but also other elements such as a recent appointment with the dentist, his illnesses, his hospitalizations, whether or not he has a blood disease, his travels, etc. It is at this moment that we check the blood pressure of the future donor but also that we calculate the volume of blood that we can take from him. This calculation is made according to its weight and size.
• The gift : it is carried out by a nurse. Sample tubes are taken before donation to perform various tests. It can take anywhere from 10 minutes (for whole blood donation) to 45 minutes for plasma and platelet donations.
• The snack : before, during and after the donation, drinks are offered to donors. It is essential to drink a lot to help the body to overcome the loss of fluid. A snack is offered to donors following the donation. This allows the medical team to “watch” the donors after their donation and make sure they are not tired or pale.

What are the contraindications for donating blood?

Only adults are authorized to donate blood. There are some contraindications to donating blood such as:

• a weight less than 50kg,
• tiredness,
• anemia,
• diabetes
• pregnancy: pregnant women or women who have recently given birth are not allowed to donate blood,
• la taking medication: you must wait 14 days after the end of an antibiotic or corticosteroids,
• a disease transmitted by blood (syphilis, viral hepatitis B and C or HIV),
• an age over 70 in France and 71 in Canada.

Donate blood, why?

It is important to know how a blood donation is organized, but it is all the more important to know what the blood is used for. It is good to know that each year, 500 French patients are transfused and 000 patients use drugs derived from blood. In Canada, every minute someone needs blood, whether for treatment or for surgery. Knowing that with a single donation we can save up to three lives¹, blood donation must become a reflex and make it possible to treat and help more and more patients. Whether it is to treat cancer patients, people affected by blood diseases (Thalassemia, sickle cell disease), severe burns or to save people suffering from hemorrhages, blood has multiple uses and will always be used at its best. But the needs are not being met and in many countries, although the number of donors is on the rise², we are still looking for voluntary donors.

Sources : Sources : http://www.bloodservices.ca/CentreApps/Internet/UW_V502_MainEngine.nsf/page/F_Qui%20a%20besoin%20de%20sang https://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Actualites/Nouvelles/Fiche.aspx?doc=les-dons-de-sang-en-hausse-dans-le-monde