Blood donation
Today, we would like to talk about blood donation. Before we start writing about Blood donation, have you ever done blood donation in your life? If not, you should read this article slowly and carefully to know what Blood donation is and how much we need and so on… Perhaps, some people admittedly have kind of hesitation to take your blood away and stick a needle on your arm. However, by acquiring proper knowledge, you will realize it isn’t that hard thing and is significant thing. Firstly, we start with “What Blood donation is.”
What Blood donation is
Blood donation is basically to donate a few amount of your blood for the people who require blood to get a specific treatment that might consume blood, to take surgery and so on… Since blood is the basis of our bodies, a lot of people are still waiting for blood.
Blood donation in Japan
Blood donation in Japan is mainly held by Japanese Red Cross Society（日本赤十字社）. They settle some booths in every single state, prefecture, and city even your home city! Additionally, they run buses in which we can do blood donation all around Japan. If you want to check which one is near you, check this link https://www.jrc.or.jp/donation/ . In 2020, about 1,740,000 people aged between teens and thirties have done blood donation which is 34% decrease compared to 2011. Therefore, still, lack of blood for blood transfusion is more prominent problem because of decline in birthrate and increase in the number of elder people these days.
Who can donate blood?
There are three main types of blood donation; There are three types of blood donation: 400 ml complete, 200 ml complete and component blood donation.
Component blood donation is the least burdensome method for volunteers, as only the necessary components are taken from the blood once it has been collected and returned again.
Once the blood is collected, it can only be stored for a maximum of three days, so it needs people’s cooperation on an ongoing daily basis.
To donate blood, we need to meet some health conditions.
1. Volunteers must be at the age of 16 to 69.
2. Volunteers must be healthy. (feel comfortable to donate)
3. Weight must be at least 45kg for men and 40kg for women.
4. Temperature should be under 37.5 degree.
5. Pulse must be at 40beats to 100 beats per minute.
6. For 200 complete donation, men can donate under 6 times and women can donate under 4 times in a year.
7. For 400 complete donation, men can donate under 3 times and women can donate under 2 times.
Here is the table we mentioned above.
https://www.jrc.or.jp/donation/about/terms/
Blood donation center
Blood donation center is not necessary a serious place. There are many centers where we can enjoy special services and the stylish atmosphere. So we don’t need to be afraid to visit there.
For example, in Shinjuku, there is a blood donation center beaded on the concept of fashion. There, we can enjoy exhibits from Bunka Fashion College. Nail care and tarot reading services are also available on an irregular basis.
In Yurakucho, there is a blood donation center, where we can enjoy concert and palmistry. Also, there is a free drink service and the atmosphere is very calm and stylish.
In Akihabara there is a center where we can enjoy latest manga and anime while we were having our blood taken. Also, we can enjoy subcultural exhibitions.
Where your blood goes
Blood is necessary for our body. So that needs of them are getting higher and higher recently. Huge number of people are waiting for blood transfusion which can’t be made by human. Your blood is going to be carried to blood center. In that facility, blood is kept in proper equipment and proper temper all the time, 24hours 365days. Most of the recipients are mostly people who have cancer, but blood is used in any situation such as traffic incident or surgery.
Benefits for you
First of all, you can save a lot of people with your blood. That is certainly one of the biggest reasons we do blood donation but there are more benefit than you think!
1, You will know what type of blood you are.
When the blood transfusion is on process, of course, we need to test blood type. If one got blood that doesn’t match with their bodies, two types of blood attack and destroy each other. So that blood type test is necessary. While you are registering into blood donation, you will be asked what type, then if you don’t know the answer or are not sure for that, just don’t answer it. That is fine because we will be able to test it.
2, You will know health of your body and blood.
What is more, you will know your health. Which means the results of blood test, as I mentioned above, includes components of our blood, so we might be able to solve issues intentionally if you have slight knowledge about hematology… This is my record of blood donation below. In the blue circle on the page, we can see my blood type and I will explain this website later on.
3, Free drink and snacks
I have ever met people who told me that they went to blood donation because they can have free drink and snacks! That is honestly true! Blood donation booth serves you free drinks such as café au lait, milk, vitamin drink and water. Why we are served free drink is because not to get dizzy from lack of blood. People often get dehydrated while blood donation before they notice, so it serves us drink to get hydrated. Also, hot drink is better because it widens vines, and that makes blood sampling faster. Reason why snack are served is not clear though, but people say that’s because they want people to relax before blood donation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19AXCzvoBxQ
Lablood (ラブラッド）
As I have shown in previous topic, there is website run by Japanese Red Cross Society, which we can register after blood donation to record our blood information. From that website, we can see components of our blood and how far from the average. Also, when we can do blood donation again. We are also able to book next blood donation.
Our experience
I, Motoharu, have done blood donation a month ago. So to let you know more about blood donation, I will write about my own experience. Initially, I was frightened the needle as most of you concern. Even right before I did blood donation. However, once I entered Blood donation centre, I really loved atmosphere the centre has. Also, free drinks and free snacks too. Then I talked to the receptionist, he said that everyone, for the first time, gets frightened and concerned… So that before you, including me, are scary but actually, it is okay to be. If you meet the condition I mentioned above, I recommend you visit once, then if you have any uncomfortable feelings, you can just return, quit, and say no to it.
One of authors: Yurino had that kind of experience too. She was planning to go to blood donation centre but she got uncomfortable with the image of blood. so that she gave up but what is important is to enquirying proper and accurate knowledge and spread your opinion and idea widely. Even if you don’t actually do it, it has huge effect in others’ heart.
We have referred this site
if you want more details, please click on this URL and visit homepage of Japanese Red Cross Society.
Only Human can Save Human
Thank you for reading!!!
Motoharu & Yurino