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A large number of people depend on the continued generosity of others who are healthy.
For the sick person who needs transfusion, blood may be the difference between life and death. A normal donation is one unit of blood, (i.e. 450ml). Average adults have about 5 litres in their body. Giving blood will not decrease your health. Our body replenishes controlled blood loss by itself. Approximately 60 to 70 units of blood are needed daily to meet the demands from hospitals. Red cells have to be used within 42 days. People who have suffered great blood loss, may require about 50 units of red blood cells that is 50 donations. One or two serious accidents are often enough to drain our blood stocks. Blood donation is safe. |
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Certain patients like those with kidney problems, require blood transfusions on a regular basis. Maltese blood donors are enough to cater for the local requests, help us keep it this way. If you started donating at 17 years of age and donated 3 times a year up to the age of 65, you would have donated over 66 litres of blood.
Platelets must be used within 5 days from collection.
There is no substitute for human blood. Over 230,000 people in Malta can donate blood but barely 5% do.
Donors do it out of a sense of duty, and don’t expect anything back.
Blood is needed everyday. Donating blood saves lives. Scrupulous tests are carried out on every single donation. |
