It might be a good idea to have your blood extracted and stored if you're having elective surgery. Just in case you should need blood transfusion. At least, you won't have to worry about waiting for blood of a similar type when you require it, particularly if yours is rare. And since it's yours, there's less concern about its source.
One of the most confusing things during hospitalization is when blood transfusion becomes necessary. Patients and their family are told not to worry because blood is free... if it is readily available.
It's that availability, particularly for not so common blood types (they're usually the RH negatives) that spells the difference between getting the transfusion the soonest or after several hours.
Tertiary level hospitals usually have their own blood banks. This means at any given time, they will have blood available when requested for a patient. It also means they have the capability to handle blood donations.
Find blood donors
When a patient requires blood transfusion, they are told to look for blood donors. This way, the units consumed from the blood bank will be replenished. Donors don't necessarily have to be of the same blood type as the patient, but of course it's a plus if it is.
Back to the confusing part... blood is free.
While there is no charge for the actual blood component used, the patient's bill will say otherwise. Typically, it is at least a thousand pesos (or more) per unit. It's an amount that can throw you off upon inspection of the billing statement.
So, how is that free?
Blood is free, storage is not
The explanation is that while you don't pay for blood per se, there are many attendant costs to ensure patients receive safe blood. So you're being charged for processing and storage of blood.
After collecting blood, this has to be tested, the components separated and labelled, then stored until requested. There are also equipment and tests used prior to and after the collection of specimen.
So while the blood itself does not cost anything, everything done to get that specimen to the patient carried a cost and that's what is reflected in the billing statement.
In other words, having blood donors doesn't nullify costs. What is simply means is you've helped replenish the country's blood supply after you took from it.
When my late Dad was in prolonged confinement, he required several blood transfusions due to low hemoglobin count. Sometimes he needed a pint, sometimes more.
So we really needed people to donate to refill the supply. We probably got six people to successfully give blood. Successfully because there were those who came to donate but were not qualified.
Save 4 lives
Donors must pass age, weight, and health criteria before being deemed qualified. They must weigh at least 50 kilograms, have normal blood pressure and heart rate, and should have recovered from mild illness at least a month before and free from chronic diseases.
Donating blood is good for the health. Aside from the fact that you will regenerate new blood cells after giving away blood, it is also a means to monitor your health. The lab tests required prior to donation can indicate potential health risks.
At the same time, one unit of blood (about 525 ml) drawn can help save four lives. Whole blood that is extracted from each individual, is separated into four components - red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma - that may be needed by different patients.
Benefits of donating blood
Regular blood donors also lower their risk of developing cancer, suffering a heart attack, and can keep the liver healthy and improve their mental state.
Besides, they do the country a huge service by helping maintain the national blood supply, which for the Philippines is one million units for its population of 110 million.
This is to ensure there will be no blood supply deficiency in case of disasters or calamities where massive blood is needed for a huge number of people.
A blood typing program here was initiated two years ago. The aim was to keep a database of blood types within communities for easier facilitation when there is need for blood without having to go far to obtain supply or find potential donors. However, there has been no news whether it was successfully carried out or not.
Today, June 15, is World Blood Donor Day. If you want to give love, give blood and save lives!
Photos: Unsplash
What a great informative post you did. I wish people would understand this point that donating blood saves lives both ours as donors as well as the lives of those who need the blood.