World Blood Donor Day 2024
On June 14th it will mark 20 years of celebrating giving blood. Every year around the world we celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
The 20th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day is an excellent and timely opportunity to thank blood donors across the world for their life-saving donations over the years and honour the profound impact on both patients and donors. It is also a timely moment to address continued challenges, and accelerate progress towards a future where safe blood transfusion is universally accessible.
Why donate blood?
Donating blood is a vital act of generosity that significantly benefits both recipients and donors. For recipients, each donation can save up to three lives, crucial for patients undergoing surgeries, cancer treatments, or facing medical emergencies and chronic conditions like sickle cell anaemia. Blood transfusions are essential during major surgeries and for managing the effects of chemotherapy.
For donors, there are health benefits such as lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes. Donors also receive a mini health check-up during the donation process and can manage their iron levels, reducing the risk of conditions like haemochromatosis. Additionally, donating blood provides a sense of purpose and community connection.
Maintaining a stable blood supplies is critical since blood cannot be manufactured and must come from volunteer donors. Regular donations ensure hospitals have the necessary supplies for emergencies and medical procedures. Donated blood is also vital for scientific research, aiding in the development of new treatments and understanding diseases better.
Who should donate blood? Well we all need it, so we all should be donating if we can! Hear from Jade our Head of Marketing & Partnerships on her first experience of donating blood...
“Before I started working at the ACLT, I had always been interested in donating blood. I have seen other people doing it and thought it was such an amazing thing to do. The registration process was easy and it took no more than 5 minutes, at the end I had a selection of dates and locations to choose from – I managed to get an appointment within 2 weeks.
When the day of my appointment came I was a little nervous, I had never given blood but when I had blood taken in the past I had felt faint, so I thought surely they are taking more blood, what if I fainted in front of everyone. But I did not feel the slightest bit faint, and even if I did the nurses were so welcoming, I knew that they would be on hand to help me out.
Before I knew it I had already donated enough blood and I was sat with a selection of biscuits and juice, then I left and went on with my day. It felt good knowing that I had taken the time to potentially help someone in need. Although I don’t know who they are, I know that my blood went to Hillingdon Hospital.”
Everyone needs blood. Simple. But as an organisation, we are highlighting the lack of black donors on donation registers. This not only includes blood but also stem cells (bone marrow) and organs. Your donor match is likely to be of the same heritage, so with the lack of Black donors, it can mean that getting the match they need can take years more than if you are Caucasian. As we said, we all need blood, and we are all in this together, so no matter your ethnicity we work to get everyone onto the donor registers. So be a hero this World Blood Donation Day and sign up through the ACLT – here.
