BENEFITS OF BLOOD DONATION
• Blood Donation is a humanitarian act that helps to save the lives of needy patients.
• Regular blood donation would decrease the possibility of having heart diseases and strokes.
• It also activates the bone marrow to produce new blood cells.
• Help the body get rid of excess iron level.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY BODY AFTER DONATING MY BLOOD?
Soon after each donation, your body will replace the amount of blood you donate, which is usually 450ml or "one blood unit". Each unit of blood that you donate can be used to help as many as three to four patients in need.
Your blood will be tested for a number of blood tests & the blood donation center will notify you & give you required consultation when required. For your safety, read post donation instruction.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY DONATED BLOOD?
Collected blood units will be transported to our laboratory for processing, testing and storage, then transported to hospitals for transfusion. A number of tests will be carried out to ensure patients' safety. Each whole blood donation can save 3-4 patients.
WHAT COMPONENT OF BLOOD DO HOSPITALS NEED?
RED BLOOD CELLS (THAT CARRIES OXYGEN)
• To increase red cell mass after trauma or surgery.
• To treat anemia
PLATELETS (TO CONTROL BLEEDING)
• To stop bleeding.
• To treat platelets function abnormalities.
PLASMA (CONTAINS PROTEINS & WATER)
• To treat bleeding in persons who have lost large amount of blood, for example, following massive bleeding due to trauma or complicated surgical procedures.
• To treat some rare bleeding disorders.
CRYOPRECIPITATE
• To treat acute bleeding.

If you are a current blood donor there is an extra special gift you can give to help save or improve the lives of even more patients. You can become a platelet donor.
Platelets are a type of blood cell that is essential for blood clotting. Patients with serious medical problems, such as leukemia and cancer, often receive platelets as do premature babies whose clotting system may not be fully functional.
Platelets are collected through a process called apheresis, where your blood is passed through a special cell-separating machine. This special type of donation takes about one hour. You can donate platelets more frequently than Whole Blood. Platelets can be donated every 2 weeks, up to 24 times a year.

You don't need a reason to donate blood. It is in you to give it voluntarily. Give the gift to life. Your donation will make a difference and each donation can save 3-4 patients.

Most healthy people between the ages 18 to 65 may be eligible to be first-time whole blood donors. See eligibility criteria.

Blood donation is very safe; you cannot get any diseases from donating blood. All materials & supplies used to collect blood are new, sterile & disposable, and used only once. Qualified & certified team will assist you & ensure your safety during donation.

• Whole Blood Donation (Single Unit)
• Double Red Cells Donation
• Platelets Apheresis Donation

It usually takes around 50-60 minutes to donate whole blood, 60-80 minutes to donate platelets by Apheresis and 60 to 70 minutes to donate Double red cells.

You should be in good health & feeling well on the day of donation & you need to have had a good sleep the previous night. Refer to Eligibility for Donation & post donation instructions.
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT:
• Blood donors should show an ID issued from UAE. Like an Emirates ID. A Person on a visit visa & transit visa to the UAE are not eligible to give blood as per Federal Health Regulation.
• Blood donor should be in good general health condition at the time of blood donation.
• Blood donors should be between the ages 18 - 65.
• Blood donors should not weight less than 50 Kg.
• Blood pressure should be between 60/100 to 100/160 mm Hg.
• Donor's pulse rate should be between 60-100 pulse/minute.
• Donor's body temperature should not be more than 37.5° C.
• It is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women to donate blood for the sake of her and her baby's health.

Mostly healthy people can make whole blood donations every 56 days. The success of the blood program depends on regular blood donation by healthy voluntary individuals. Eligible donors can make Platelet Apheresis every 2 weeks while the Double Red Cell donation is every 16 weeks.

All blood types are needed. Regular donations from donors helps in meeting the needs of hospitals for blood and blood products.