World Blood Donor Day 2017
June 14th 2017 marks the World Health Organization's Blood Donor Day. The campaign this year will focus on blood donations in a time of emergency. 57 countries around the world collect 100% of their blood supply from volunteer citizens meaning it's important to raise awareness to encourage donations.
For this blog post, we have 10 great blood donation facts, provided by WHO.
1) Donating Blood Around the World
Approximately 112.5 million units of donated blood are collected around the world each year. While that number may sound high, there is a lot of work to do to ensure that donations are increased in poorer countries. Nearly 47% of blood donations are collected in high-income countries, home to less than 19% of the world's population.
2) The elderly require transfusions more often
The most frequently transfused patient group is over 60 years of age, this group accounts for a huge 79% of all transfusions. These transfusions are commonly used for supportive care in cardiovascular surgery, transplants, trauma and therapy for solid and haematological malignancies.
3) Volunteered Blood is Statistically Safest
Adequate and reliable supply of safe blood can only be assured through a stable base of regular, voluntary, unpaid blood donors. They are the safest group of donors because the prevalence of bloodborne infections is lowest among them.
4) Many Countries Reply on Volunteers
Recent data showed that 74 countries reported collecting more than 90% of their blood supply from voluntary unpaid blood donors. However, in 71 countries, less than 50% of their blood supplies come from volunteers. In many of these countries, usually poorer countries, the blood supply relies on direct family members.
5) 112.5m Blood Donations Collected Each Year
It's a big number, but the average blood donation rate is more than 9 times greater in high-income countries than in low-income countries.
6) More Donations in High-Income Countries
Around 10,000 blood donation centres in 168 countries report collecting a total of 83 million blood donations. The average number of donations received each year in rich countries is 15,000. In middle to low-income countries that number falls to 3,100.
7) High-income People Donate More Often
Fact 6 showed that there are more donations on average in richer countries, but it's not because there are more people donating. Statistics show that people in higher-income countries
8) Blood Donors Should be Screened
Blood donation poses a major risk and can be the reason for HIV, hepatitis B and C as well as syphilis to spread. Prior to a transfusion, testing should take place. 35 countries are not yet able to screen all donated blood for these donations, making blood transfusions very dangerous.
9) A Single Donation Can Benefit Several Patients
Separating blood into its various components allows a single unit of blood to benefit several patients and provides a patient only the blood component which is needed. Around 97% of blood collected in high-income countries is separated into blood components.
10) Unnecessary Transfusions Can Put Patients at Risk
Blood transfusions are often simple and straightforward and usually effective. An unnecessary transfusion, however, can expose patients to the risks of infections such as HIV, hepatitis and adverse transfusion reactions.
Content provided by World Health Organization