World Blood Donor Day: Theme, Reasons To Consider The 'Simple But Selfless' Act

World Blood Donor Day, observed on June 14 every year, continues to raise global awareness of the importance and need for safe blood donations. It also honors the world's donors for their "simple but selfless" act.

The World Health Assembly declared the observance in May 2005 after the success of World Health Day in 2000, which centered on blood donation and transfusions. Since then, World Blood Donor Day has been observed on June 14, with the goal of raising awareness of the need for safe blood, highlighting the important contributions of unpaid, voluntary donors and supporting national blood transfusion services, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

This year, the theme is "Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives." This highlights the important role of voluntarily donating blood in "saving lives and enhancing solidarity within communities," the WHO said. It also aims to thank the blood donors of the world.

As the organization noted, access to safe blood should be "integral" to countries' health care systems. However, many people who need life-saving blood still don't have timely access to it.

Naturally, one important way for people to observe World Blood Donor Day is to consider being a regular, voluntary unpaid blood donor.

"Becoming a regular voluntary blood donor is a simple but selfless step that everyone can take to strengthen their communities, support local health systems and save lives," the WHO noted.

On this day, let's look at some important reasons to be a regular, voluntary unpaid blood donor. (Courtesy: WHO, American Red Cross, Adventist Health)

• The need for blood is "universal." It can happen anywhere at any time, whether under normal circumstances or in emergency ones such as pandemics, accidents, conflicts or disasters.
• One blood donation may potentially save more than one life.
• As mentioned, many people who need safe blood still don't have access to it.
• Low- and middle-income countries tend to experience blood shortages. Unfortunately, in these countries, women (pregnancy-related complications) and children (childhood anemia) are particularly affected.
• All blood types are needed, but some are rarer and can be found among people with similar ancestries. Donating blood can help keep the "diversity" of the blood supply.
• Regular, voluntary unpaid blood donors are said to be the safest group of donors because the prevalence of bloodborne infections among them is the lowest.
• Blood donors essentially get a free check-up because their temperature, pulse and blood pressure are also checked before donating. In some cases, this is how donors find that they have high blood pressure and need to have a follow-up consultation.
• Blood donation helps to create a more united community and generates "social ties."