Benefits of donating blood
Giving blood helps up to three people each time. It also has measurable benefits for the person donating.
Five health benefits of donating blood
A small needle prick and a little of your time can set aside up to three human lives each donation, and the benefits are not only for the person receiving.
The joy of saving human lives
There is no perfect substitute for human blood. The blood you give is divided into components according to the needs of patients, and each component can be used by a different recipient for a different purpose. Newborns may benefit from a single donor, as their requirements are smaller. Each time you give blood, you may help up to three or four individual recipients.
A free health check-up
You can only give blood if you are fit enough to do so. Before each donation a series of health checks is performed on the donor, entirely free of cost. You will come to know of any blood pressure irregularities, which can identify some conditions early, before they cause problems. After donation, the blood and the products derived from it are screened for specific infections, and you can be informed if any irregularity is found in those screening tests.
Lower risk of heart disease
Regular blood donation helps keep the level of iron in the body in check, particularly in men. Although iron is essential for the proper functioning of the body, excessive iron build-up can cause oxidative damage, a factor implicated in accelerated ageing, heart attacks and strokes. Further reading on this has been published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
It burns calories
A single blood donation uses roughly 650 kcal, which can support your body-weight management. Blood can only be given safely once every few months, however, and not more often. How often depends on your health status and your haemoglobin and iron levels.
Possible reduction in cancer risk
High levels of iron have been implicated in cancer, so in theory giving blood regularly may reduce that risk. Research is ongoing and firm evidence is not yet established. What is settled is that the old myth that blood donation may lead to cancer has been laid to rest.
Ready to give blood?
Register once and we will contact you when a camp or a matching need is nearby.